Early Bicycles

Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn; artist Alan Osbahr. Printed on high white matt cardstock of 134 gm/sm². 
Size: c. 38 x 25¼ cm (15″ x 10″) but image size may vary slightly. Images shown are scans.
Prints are LARGE size. Shipping cost is the same for up to 10 prints of the largest size in an order – see Shipping and Returns

Scroll down for a very brief history of Bicycles

Showing all 12 results

  • 1790 Hobby Horse Bicycle

    1790 Hobby Horse Bicycle

    £7.50

    1790 Hobby Horse Bicycle  (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1839 Macmillan Bicycle

    1839 Macmillan Bicycle

    £7.50

    1839 Macmillan Bicycle  (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1861 Michaux Velocipede

    1861 Michaux Velocipede

    £7.50

    1861 Michaux Velocipede  (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1876 Lawson 'Lever' Safety Bicycle

    1876 Lawson ‘Lever’ Safety Bicycle

    £7.50

    1876 Lawson ‘Lever’ Safety Bicycle (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1876 'Coventry' Tricycle

    1876 ‘Coventry’ Tricycle

    £7.50

    1876 ‘Coventry’ Tricycle (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1879 Bayliss-Thomas 'Ordinary' Bicycle

    1879 Bayliss-Thomas ‘Ordinary’ Bicycle

    £7.50

    1879 Bayliss-Thomas ‘Ordinary’ Bicycle  (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1879 Lawson Bicyclette Machine

    1879 Lawson Bicyclette Machine

    £7.50

    1879 Lawson Bicyclette Machine (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1884 McCammon 'Safety' Bicycle

    1884 McCammon ‘Safety’ Bicycle

    £7.50

    1884 McCammon ‘Safety’ Bicycle (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1887 Rudge 'Cross-Frame' Bicycle

    1887 Rudge ‘Cross-Frame’ Bicycle

    £7.50

    1887 Rudge ‘Cross-Frame’ Bicycle (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1888 Starley 'Rover' Bicycle

    1888 Starley ‘Rover’ Bicycle

    £7.50

    1888 Starley ‘Rover’ Bicycle (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1893 Dursely-Pederson Bicycle

    1893 Dursely-Pederson Bicycle

    £7.50

    1893 Dursely-Pederson Bicycle  (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

  • 1893 'Golden' Sunbeam Bicycle

    1893 ‘Golden’ Sunbeam Bicycle

    £7.50

    1893 ‘Golden’ Sunbeam Bicycle (scroll down for a more detailed Description)

    Published 1966 by © Hugh Evelyn Limited; drawn by Alan Osbahr
    Size: c. 38 x 25 cm [15″ x 10″] may vary slightly from printers’ cut 50 years ago
    Printed on white cardstock weighing 134 g/sm2
    Print is STANDARD size – shipping is the same for 1 to 10 prints (based on largest print size in your order) – see Shipping & Returns

End of content

End of content

Bicycles

Yes. A bicycle is a vehicle according to the UN’s 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The UK is a signatory of this convention. The same convention considers that the person controlling a bicycle, whether riding or not, is an operator.
In the UK, in the late 19th century a pedal cycle was held to be a “carriage” for the purposes of the Highways Acts which set the basis for all road traffic law. So a cyclist had the rights and obligations of any other wheeled road vehicle – “a carriage of any type” of the time (including a prohibition from riding on the footway and an explicit right to use the carriageway). This remains in force. Pedal cycles are not covered by a great deal of legislation governing the use of motor vehicles, however (particularly the strict liability offences like speeding do not apply, as a pedal cycle does not have any requirement to have a speedometer; likewise the drink driving limits. In both these cases alternative offences for cyclists exist, but the definitions are subjective). In more generic language terms, a “vehicle” is any form of conveyance, or indeed any object or concept that literally or figuratively carries something else. So, yes, a bicycle is a vehicle for its rider.
There are over 2 billion bicycles in the world today.
The first bicycle ride was on a Laufmaschine at Mannheim on 12th June 1817. The rig became the “hobby horse” (after the children’s toy). In 1839 Kirkpatrick Macmillan balanced on two wheels mounted consecutively whilst in motion and developed the first mechanically propelled bicycle.  Early bicycles were limited by the shocking condition of roads. 
In the 1860’s Ernest Michaux and Pierre Lallement developed the first pedal driven bicycle whilst high-wheel bicycles (e.g. the ‘penny farthing’) were built for more speed. These early machines were considered dangerous toys. The 1880’s brought the ‘safety’ bicycle.  The first, the ‘Rover’ was built by John Kemp Starley in 1885. In the 1890’s John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre. The 20th century saw the introduction of the Roadster and ladies’ bicycles, which avoided skirts catching in the chain drive. Bicycle use declined in the US in the first half of the century; the opposite happened elsewhere. The Flying Pigeon brand in China sold 3 million units in 1986 and there was a waiting list for years. The last 50 years has seen an explosion in cycle popularity. There are now more cyclists in Britain than the Second World War. Most are cycling for pleasure. Advanced materials and computer aided design led to advances in design which has led to the enjoyment of cycling for sport and recreation. There are lightweight racing bikes, BMX bikes, mountain bikes, balloon tyre cruiser bikes, recumbent bikes, folding bikes, electric bikes and many other types.

In the less developed world the bicycle not only remains a vital and affordable means of transport for millions but also a means of carriage of goods for sale or to market for some of the poorest (see image).  The bicycle has also become articulated to provide a form of fee-paying passenger conveyance in many poorer countries.