We report the discovery of LSR1610-0040 , a previously unreported r = 17.5 star with a very high proper motion \mu = 1.46 \arcsec 
yr ^ { -1 } .
This very cool star ( b - i =6.3 ) is found to have a peculiar spectrum that does not fit into the standard sequence of late-M dwarfs and L dwarfs .
Rather , the spectrum is more typical of an ultra-cool subdwarf , with weak bands of TiO and no detectable VO .
But because LSR1610-0040 is so much redder than any other sdM known , and because it does not appear to fit well into the sdM sequence , we propose that LSR1610-0040 be assigned a spectral type sdL , making it the first early-type L subdwarf known .
Evidence suggests that LSR1610-0040 is an old , metal-poor star whose mass is just above the limit of hydrogen burning ( M \approx 0.08 M _ { \sun } ) .