Lot 233 , An extremely rare Regency Denis Johnson Velocipede (Dandy Horse / Hobby Horse, circa 1819, of painted wood and wrought iron construction, with velvet padded seat and elbow rest, wrought iron tyres and decorative carved t

An extremely rare Regency Denis Johnson Velocipede (Dandy Horse / Hobby Horse, circa 1819, of painted wood and wrought iron construction, with velvet padded seat and elbow rest, wrought iron tyres and decorative carved top to the steering column, approximate dimensions; overall length 150cm, seat height 84cm, height to the top of handlebars 111cm, Developed from Karl Drais’s Draisine, produced in Germany, and patented in England in 1818. Denis Johnson (c.1760-1833) made at least 320 of these during the early part of 1819 including a dropped frame version for ladies. Without the development of pedals, movement was achieved by swift walking.
It is understood that the popularity faded quickly by the summer of the same year due to a number of reasons which included the discouragement of their use by the London Surgeons, and the Metropolitan Paving Act of 1817 which made it unlawful to ride any wheeled vehicle on the pavement.
With the roads really only suitable for horse traffic there followed no notable cycling developments in England until the 1860s.
A similar example of the Velocipede can be found in the Science Museum, London.
£4,000-6,000

Condition:
Vendor inherited this and the other cycles in the sale from his father some decades ago; his father being a pioneer collector of early aircraft, motor cars and bicycles during the 1930’s. Black painted wood mainframe with bolt repairs, see images; otherwise in honest condition.

Sold for £18,500