1890’s The Bicycle Race Game Board by Woolley & Co. Ltd., London

Description

Here we have an extremely rare antique game board.  The playing surface shows various scenes and obstacles along the spiral route of the bicycle race which culminates at the centre of the board.  The finish space shows cyclists in front of the “Old Salisbury Arms Hotel”.  This was a real pub, subsequently renamed The Salisbury.  It was situated at 126 High Street, Barnet.  The pub was a regular meeting place for the Finsbury Park Cycling Club, which was formed in 1883.  Click here to see a photo of the Club’s 70th anniversary in 1953, outside the very same building.  The publisher of the game, Woolley & Co. was based in Finsbury, so employees may well have been members of the club.

The game board is in good order for its age, with wonderful artwork throughout, showing people in their period dress..  The label on the back of the board has some damage, but the spine is intact and the playing surface itself is in very good undamaged condition as shown.  The game is believed to date from the late Victorian period c.1890’s.  The publisher, Woolley & Co. Ltd., London,  ceased trading in 1904.

This superb historic piece would look excellent mounted and framed.  The open board measures 37 x 37 cm. (14″ square).

Note.  This listing is for the game board only.  There are no playing pieces.

Please refer to all the photos as they form an integral part of the item description.