[Rarebooks] FS - Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World 1928

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

*TAYLOR, Marshall W. "Major". /THE FASTEST BICYCLE IN THE WORLD The 
Story of a Colored Boy's Indomitable Courage and Success Against Great 
Odds./* Bound in original grained royal blue cloth with gilt lettering, 
and illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Wormley Publishing 
Company, Worcester, MA. 1928. 1st edition. Royal 8vo, pp. (14), 431.

Marshall Walter Taylor (1878-1922) was an American cyclist who won the 
world one mile track cycling championship in 1899 after setting numerous 
world records. Taylor was the first African-American athlete to win a 
world championship and only the second black man - after Canadian boxer 
George Dixon. He acquired the nickname "Major" from his early employment 
by an Indiana bicycle shop owner. Taylor performed tricks and stunts on 
one of the owner's bicycles, outside of the shop and while wearing a 
soldier's uniform; hence the sobriquet "Major".

In the same year he won the world championship, he did the measured mile 
from a standing start in 1 minute, 41 seconds, a record that stood 
unbroken for 28 years. Taylor was subject to racism throughout most of 
his career, particularly in the American south, where he was banned from 
competing against white cyclists. In his autobiography, he recounts a 
number of incidents of discrimination, including one in which he was 
tackled on the race track by another (white) competitor, who choked him 
nearly into unconsciousness. His assailant received only a nominal 
punishment. But for the most part his book, like that of Booker T. 
Washington's, is
meant to be inspirational and not complaining. Nevertheless, at age 32 
and fed up with the racism, he retired from racing.

Our copy of this book shows light rubbing to the edges of the boards. 
The hinges and joints are tight, and the contents are unmarked. This 
title was reprinted in 1972, but our offering is a very good copy of the 
true first edition.

Price: $275.00.

Terms of sale - the price is in US funds. Payment by check, credit card, 
or PayPal. Postage and packing charge is $10 in North America; $20 
overseas. Returnable within seven days of receipt if found to be not as 
described.

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