#9577 • The Humber

Part of Automotive Book Auction - November 2026 (timed auction by Rail & Road Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 29, 2026 5:25 PM EST

The ancestry of Humber goes back as far &S any in the British motor industry, to 7 1868 when Thomas Humber began to make French-style velocipedes, forerunners of the bicycle, in Nottingham: The first Humber cars were also of French design, Leon Bollee three-wheelers of 1896, but Humber soon became & wholly British car made in two factories, cheaper models at Coventry and more expensive ones at L Beeston. They were active in competitions, contesting the Tourist Trophy and Four Inch Races in the years up to 1914. Humbers were among the most respected British cars of the 1920s, moving up-market in the 1930s when they became of the Rootes Group. This era saw some degree of rationalisation with other marques in the Rootes empire, a process which was continued after the war, though Humbers retained their reputation for quality up to the end of the line in 1976. Nick Georgano was born in London in 1932 and was educated at Bryanston School and New College, Oxford. He was a schoolmaster for ten years, during which time he produced the third edition of The World's Automobiles by G. R. Dovle and wrote a companion volume, The World's Commercial Vehicles: In 1966 he became a full-time writer and editor, and two years later his major work, The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, was published. Since then he has edited two further encyclopedias, on motor sport and commercial vehicles, and has written more than twenty books, including A History of Sports Cars, A Motor Racing Camera, Early Days on the Road (with Lord Montagu of Beaulieu), The Classic Rolls- Royce and Cars, 1886-1930. His previous book for Shire Publications was The London Taxi From 1976 to 1981 he was Head Librarian at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, and he is currently a member of the Museum's Advisory Council and a Trustee of the Michael Sedgwick Memoriai Trust: He is also President of the Wessex Vehicle Preservation Club_ Shire Albums on motoring history Aston Martin (Album 228) Alan Archer Motoring Costume (Album 1971 Andrew Lane Austerity Motoring 1939-1950 (Album 1831 Motor Scooters (Album 181) Michael Webster Andrew Lane Old Buses (Album 94) David Kave Children's Cars (Album 178) Paul Pennell Old Delivery Vans (Album 187) Nick Baldwin Classic Motor Cars (Album 151) Jonathan Wood Old Lorries (Album 138) John Woodhams The Country Garage (Alb. Nick Georgano