Postcard franked Croydon 1913 - Celerating George M Schilling
George M. Schilling (1874-1920) was a legendary American one-armed athlete who defied all odds to become the first man to walk around the world for a wager. Embarking on his first epic adventure in August 1897 from New York City, Schilling set out with nothing but a newspaper suit and penniless pockets. Over nine arduous years, he traversed an astounding distance of 55,000 miles, encircling the globe and etching his name into history books as one of humanity's greatest explorers.
For a more detailed account of Schilling’s life and exploits see this Dollar Bank article. (accessed July 2023)