ORIGINAL COPIES OF MAJOR TAYLOR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

[Tiffany Browne]

HI - I am still/ currently working on a book about Indianapolis bicycle history. The most famous cyclist from Indianapolis is obviously Major Taylor. In trying to track down some new information on Major, I've been trying to collect information from the existing copies of his inscribed autobiography. So far, I have seen a few not inscribed to a specific person, and others inscribed to: W. E. B. Du Bois, Carl Fisher, O. C. Ansley (?), and Harry Hearsey. If anyone knows of and is willing to share the information from other inscribed copies, I would be grateful. Will try to attach the DuBois image from the recent exhibit at the Indiana State Museum.

 

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[Tiffany Browne]

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These are fantastic, thank you so much for sharing! This community is just the best!

 

[New Mexico Brant]

I think Dave Traum has/had a signed copy. You may want to check the past results on Liveauctioneers as well; you should be able to find several that have sold in the past.

 

[Tiffany Browne]

I don't know how to find Dave Traum? I have looked up prior auction lots. I think there were 3 copies found that way. Thank you.

 

[BikemanDan]

great stuff!! i was at an auction Saturday and was bidding on a Hearsey Special, which i could not afford, of course! i really love digging into Indiana cycling history, good luck to you!

 

[Tiffany Browne]

great stuff!! i was at an auction Saturday and was bidding on a Hearsey Special, which i could not afford, of course! i really love digging into Indiana cycling history, good luck to you!

Did you see what the final hammer was? I love Hearsey.

 

[corbettclassics]

There is a bicycle medal on eBay that the seller claims is Major Taylors from 1895 Jay County Fair. No inscription or anything like that on it but he says it's Taylor's with no actual proof. I can't find anything that I have where he won this 5 mile race. Anyone have some info for Taylor 1895 - he was still an amateur.

Price is $15,000