RARE 1895 Columbia Bicycle Paper Doll: Miss Georgia Cayvan in the Bicycle Costume She Designed, Pope Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Conn., Chromolithograph by Gast Lith. Co., N.Y. Two Pieces, Complete
Description
An original 1895 advertising paper doll from the Columbia Bicycle series issued by the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, makers of Columbia bicycles. Both pieces are present: the doll, showing the actress Miss Georgia Cayvan, and her bicycle costume, a separate folding piece that slips over her head through a slot at the neck.
On the front she stands beside her Columbia safety bicycle on a country road, in zouave trousers, an Eton jacket with full sleeves, a suede belt, jersey leggings and a sailor hat trimmed with chiffon and Mercury wings. The artist even drew the valve on the pneumatic tire.
The costume piece is printed on both sides. Inside: "Bicycle Costume designed and worn by Miss Georgia Cayvan," with a full description of the outfit, and "This Doll representing Miss Georgia Cayvan in the dress used by her in riding her Columbia Bicycle is one of a series of six similar dolls showing designs by Redfern and other noted makers of costumes for women's wear ... The set of six dolls will be mailed to any address for five 2-cent stamps."
On the back: "Columbia Bicycles for Woman's Use," the Columbia Model 41 at 21 1/2 pounds and the special 26-inch Model 42 "with diamond frame, to be used with zouave or knickerbocker costume," at 18 pounds, and "Their Price is $100." The Columbia head badge, "That plate means Columbia, The Best Bicycle," sits at the top. Printed "Copyright, 1895, Gast Lith. Co., N.Y." at the lower right of the front.
Die-cut, irregular outline, cut closely around the figure and bicycle. Assembled approx. 3.05 x 6.05 in; the costume piece unfolds to approx. 3.1 x 10.05 in. Weight 5.85 g.
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Rare
We found no sale of this doll on its own. Examples from the series are held in museum collections.
Historical Context
Not a penny-farthing. The high-wheel bicycle of the 1880s was fast but perilous: hit a rock and the rider went over the handlebars. By the 1890s the safety bicycle, with equal-sized wheels, a diamond frame and air-filled tires, made riding easy for almost anyone, and set off a craze that put millions of Americans on wheels between 1892 and 1899.
Designed for women. Pope offered two women's models. The Model 42, with a diamond frame, was meant for a rider in trousers, exactly the costume on this doll. The safety bicycle gave women the personal mobility men had enjoyed in the 1880s and pushed the "rational dress" movement: shorter skirts, bloomers and knickerbockers. In 1896 Susan B. Anthony told Nellie Bly: "I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world."
Freedom on two wheels. A bicycle meant a woman could leave the house on her own, go where she liked and come back when she pleased, much as the family car did for teenagers in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Miss Georgia Cayvan. Born in Bath, Maine, in 1857, she was the leading lady of Daniel Frohman's Lyceum Theatre company in New York from the late 1880s. Here she designed her own riding costume. She died in 1906.
Redfern. The series credits "Redfern and other noted makers." John Redfern's house, founded in Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 1855, is described as essentially the first high-end sportswear label: tailored clothes for women who rode, played tennis and sailed, with houses in London, Paris and New York by the mid-1880s.
Pope and Columbia. Albert Pope's company built Columbia bicycles in Hartford from 1878, in the former Weed Sewing Machine factory.
Buying Power
Their price was $100, about $4,011 in today's money. In 1895 the average American horse was valued at $36.29, so one Columbia cost as much as nearly three horses, and it never needed feeding. Cars were barely a rumor: only 4 were registered in the entire United States in 1895. The same year, the Philadelphia Mint struck just 880 Morgan silver dollars, all proofs.
Condition
Both pieces present and complete. Front bright and clean with strong color; light edge wear. The back of the costume is white with light toning. The inner side is a toned tan stock, as made, with a small crease and light surface wear at the neck tabs and a tan stain at the head slot. No writing. Please see the images, which are part of the description.
About The Printing
This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.
Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.
The advertising text is printed in black.
Provenance
From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.
Also In Our Store
More Victorian advertising paper dolls and trade cards are in our store.
Disclaimer
The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.
FRANÇAIS
RARE poupée en papier publicitaire de 1895 pour les bicyclettes Columbia (Pope Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut), chromolithographie de Gast Lith. Co., New York. Deux pièces complètes : la poupée, l'actrice Miss Georgia Cayvan, et son costume de cycliste qu'elle a dessiné elle-même (pantalon zouave, veste Eton, chapeau marin aux ailes de Mercure), à côté de sa bicyclette Columbia. Une série de six poupées montrant des créations de Redfern et d'autres grands couturiers. Au dos : bicyclettes Columbia pour dames, modèles 41 et 42, prix 100 dollars. Ce n'est pas un grand-bi : c'est une bicyclette de sécurité, pensée pour les femmes, un pas vers la liberté. Environ 7,7 x 15,4 cm assemblée. Très bon état ; voir les photos et la vidéo.
Deutsch
SELTENE Werbe-Anziehpuppe aus Papier von 1895 für Columbia-Fahrräder (Pope Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut), Chromolithografie von Gast Lith. Co., New York. Zwei Teile, vollständig: die Puppe der Schauspielerin Miss Georgia Cayvan und ihr selbst entworfenes Radfahrkostüm (Zuavenhose, Eton-Jacke, Matrosenhut mit Merkurflügeln), neben ihrem Columbia-Fahrrad. Eine Serie von sechs Puppen mit Entwürfen von Redfern und anderen bekannten Schneidern. Rückseite: Columbia-Damenräder Modell 41 und 42, Preis 100 Dollar. Kein Hochrad, sondern ein Sicherheitsniederrad, für Frauen gebaut, ein Schritt zu mehr Freiheit. Ca. 7,7 x 15,4 cm zusammengesetzt. Sehr guter Zustand; bitte Fotos und Video beachten.
ESPAÑOL
RARA muñeca de papel publicitaria de 1895 de las bicicletas Columbia (Pope Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut), cromolitografía de Gast Lith. Co., Nueva York. Dos piezas completas: la muñeca de la actriz Miss Georgia Cayvan y su traje de ciclista diseñado por ella misma (pantalón zuavo, chaqueta Eton, sombrero marinero con alas de Mercurio), junto a su bicicleta Columbia. Una serie de seis muñecas con diseños de Redfern y otros modistos. Al dorso: bicicletas Columbia para damas, modelos 41 y 42, precio 100 dólares. No es un biciclo (penny-farthing): es una bicicleta de seguridad, pensada para la mujer, un paso hacia la libertad. Aprox. 7,7 x 15,4 cm armada. Muy buen estado; vea las fotos y el video.
