1897 Century Run Cycling Ledger w/ Deficit Iron Gall Ink Handwritten
$ 12.94
Description
1897 Century Run Cycling Ledger w/ Deficit Iron Gall Ink Handwritten. The late nineteenth century witnessed a cycling boom, with such events frequently organized by local clubs. The balance sheet reveals a deficit, noting a “Balance due W.S. Banner, 2.75,” who signed the report as “Sec’y of Com.”. A single sheet of aged paper, this artifact is a financial report or ledger entry from the “Century Run” held on Saturday, July 17, 1897. The paper exhibits a warm, light tan hue and a visible fibrous texture, indicative of late nineteenth-century stock. The entirety of the text is rendered in a consistent, legible cursive hand using a dark, likely iron gall ink, which has faded slightly in some areas but remains entirely clear. Several prominent horizontal creases, a common storage technique for documents intended to fit into an envelope, traverse the sheet, while the edges show only minor wear consistent with age and handling. The document, titled “Report from The Committee of The Century Run,” provides a detailed breakdown of the event’s finances. The term “Century Run” almost certainly refers to a century ride, a popular endurance cycling event of the era where participants aimed to cover one hundred miles in a single day. The late nineteenth century witnessed a cycling boom, with such events frequently organized by local clubs. The receipts section records “22 Entries at 50¢ $11.00,” a 25-cent donation from the Committee, and $7.50 “Furnished by Club,” for a total of $18.75 received. Expenditures totaled $21.50, including the substantial cost of “(21) Medals” at $17.50, “C.O.D. Charges” of 25 cents, “Ribbon (10 yds.)” for $1.00, and “Schedules” for $2.75. The balance sheet reveals a deficit, noting a “Balance due W.S. Banner, 2.75,” who signed the report as “Sec’y of Com.” This artifact offers a rare, granular glimpse into the business practices and social customs of a specific sporting subculture, documenting the financial realities of organizing a community event in the Gilded Age. The precise geographic location of the Century Run is not specified on the document, leaving its local context to the broader history of American cycling clubs and their printed records.
