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Vtg 1912 CA Coey School Motoring Chicago Complete Set Lessons 1-10 Auto Ephemera. No pencil markings observed in any of the booklets.
This is an exceptionally rare, complete 10-part set of correspondence lessons from the C.A. Coey School of Motoring, originally published in 1912. Charles A. Coey was a prominent early automotive pioneer, dealer, and racer in Chicago, heavily involved in the industrial expansion of the American automobile.
Finding individual surviving lessons from this era is uncommon, but securing the intact, sequential 1 through 10 set with its original multi-colored wrappers is highly unusual and represents a premium piece of early automotive and Chicago industrial history.
Points of Interest & Value:
The collection serves as a comprehensive time capsule of early 20th-century automotive engineering. The course covers rudimentary to advanced mechanics of the era, including detailed cross-section diagrams of early combustion engines, cooling methods, carburetors, ignition systems, and transmissions. The booklets feature their original colored paper covers and include the examination questions provided to prospective mechanics over a century ago.
The set remains in remarkable condition for 1912 paper ephemera. The covers remain attached, and the internal pages are highly legible with well-preserved mechanical diagrams. Age-related wear is present, including standard toning, localized foxing, and minor handling marks consistent with over 110 years of age, but there is no severe damage that detracts from the historical or informational value of the texts.
