Pedestrianism.- Wilson (George) A Sketch of the Life of George Wilson, the Blackheath Pedestrian; Who Undertook to Walk One Thousand Miles in Twenty Days!...Written by Himself, engraved portrait frontispiece, tissue-guard, contemporary ink gift inscription to head of title (small loss to upper corner), some leaves with fraying to margins or roughly opened, particularly first few ff., occasional light soiling, heavier to frontispiece verso, modern paper wrappers, uncut and partly unopened, for the Author, by Hay and Turner, 1815 § [Thom (Walter)] Pedestrianism; or, an Account of the Performances of celebrated Pedestrians...with a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay's Public and Private Matches, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, armorial bookplate of George Barclay, contemporary calf, sympathetically rebacked, corners repaired, rubbed with some wear to extremities, Aberdeen, D. Chalmers and Co., 1813, some very light spotting or browning; and another on Captain Barclay with hand-coloured frontispiece, 8vo (3)
⁂ Pedestrianism became a popular spectator sport in 19th century Britain, with Wilson one of the most successful pedestrians of his day. In 1814, while in debtor’s prison, he walked 50 miles in the prison yard in 12 hours, earning a small prize. He continued his competitive pedestrianism after his release in prison, and in 1822 attempted to walk 1,000 miles in 20 days. Although he only completed 750 miles, this was still a significant achievement.
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