Hambidge, Jay “The Century Run”

Jay Hambidge.  “The Century Run.” 

New York: Truth Company, 1897.  11 x 18 (image).  Off-set color lithograph.   Signed in image by the artist.  Two repaired short tears in bottom margin.  Very good condition.  

In the late 19th century many men and women became involved in this popular form of transportation and amusement, often going on long afternoon group rides or joining cycling clubs.  A “Century Run” was a popular race organized by local bicycle clubs across the United States in which riders had to travel a total of one hundred miles from point A to point B and back within a certain period of time. 

Truth magazine was a weekly and monthly magazine which was published from 1881 until 1905 which eventually had 50,000 subscribers at one time.  Like similar publications and newspapers of the time colored prints were issued as an incentive to take out a subscription and/or were included with the publication.