Signed and inscribed collectables.

[Liquid Amber]

I had reason to pick up my copy[fourth edition, 1887, edited by W. Butt] of Ford's "The Theory and Practice of Archery by the late Horace Ford."  It has "Property of A. Shepherdson," hand written, likely by Shepherdson and the following hand-written inscription by Samuel G. McMeen.

"To my friend, fellow-craftsman and knight of the happy range, Mr. Abner Shepherdson, in memory of friendly communications and in the hope of many more, Samuel G. McMeen."

It is my favorite, signed and inscribed piece in my collection.

[Deno]

Personally signed books from Jay Massey and Fred Anderson, and a leather arm brace from Jerry Hill.
Deno

[Wade Phillips]

There are many favorites at the Antique Archery Arsenal. Have collected signed and or inscribed items from nearly every old time bowman from the first half of the 20th century... a few that come to mind without looking around...

1) Nels Grumley's personal 1930s Michigan deer hunting map with a skull over crossed bones that he drew with his inscription "Stolen from Nels Grumley"

2) Fred Bear's extremely rare 1930s Deerslayer Leather Hunting Back Quiver with Hunting Cuff signed by 50 old time bowmen including...

"Fred Bear with his stickman
Marie Bear (Fred's wife)
Nels Grumley (greatest bowyer of all time)
Marie Grumley (Nels' wife)
Roy Hoff - (Longtime NFAA "Archery" magazine editor)
Tom Immler - (one of Fred's many 1930's hunting partners)
Carl Strang - (one of Fred's many 1930's hunting partners)
Bill Folberth (inventor of the vacume windshield wiper, bowyer & holder of numerous archery patents)
Barney Grenier - (one of Fred's many 1930's hunting partners and inventor of the Grenier Bow Hinge)
Carl Oelschlager - (well known old bowmen)
Leo Lang - (well known old bowmen)
Mike Michelson - (well known Michigan BH)
Larry Mytinger - (well known Michigan BH)
Bob Cooper - (early bowhunting partner of Fred Bear)
Frank Scott - (Longtime Bear employee)
Tracy Stalker - (Greatest 'how to' writer of "Archery" 1940s-1960s)
Lou Stalker - (wife of Tracy)
Fred Kibbe" - Archery manufacturer 1927 to WWII)
plus 32 others...

2 books from Saxton Pope's personal library...

3) A Game Ranger's Notebook (373 page hardback) inscribed "Given me by my brother G.D. Pope - 1924 - Saxton Pope"

4) An Essay on Archery by Mosley MDCCXCII, Signed "1924 - Saxton Pope"

5) "the Adventurous Bowmen" inscribed by Pope to his surgical nurse (also Ishi's nurse) "To Helena Jorgensen who has been a surgical nurse & helped me so many ways - though not in shooting lions - Saxton Pope - July 20, 1926" (Pope died 19 days later on August 8, 1926)

6) Two small memento notebooks from two big 1940s shoots that are filled with signed pages, address and personal notes from nearly everyone who was anyone in archery...

Fred Bear
Larry Whiffen Sr.
Ben Pearson
Howard Hill

7) A rare early 1950s Bear brochure that Nubbie Pate signed to me "Your Pal - Nubbie Pate"

8) Two Cloth Broadhead Round Targets used in the first NFAA National Tournement signed by all the top finishers and many others...

"Babe Biztenburger '46, 47',48, 49 Champ"
"Dr. Erwin Pletcher '46, 47', 49 Champ"
"Roy Dill 2nd 1947, 1st 1948, 3rd 1949"
Dr Delmer Pletcher
Roy Hoff
Ken Moore
Nubbie Pate
and many more signatures from 1946

9) Cassuis Styles arrow box signed and inscribed by him to Uncle HAT on a Styles Label with Styles handwritten instructions and notations to Uncle HAT.

10) A note to Floyd Eccleston from Fred Bear on the seldom seen "A Note from Fred Bear" mini stationary in which Fred describes the broadheads that he is sending to Floyd.  Fred typed the note on his old typewriter and the note is full of typing errors. A humorous (because of the errors) but historically significant note as it contains critical historical information about the Razorhead that simply unavailable from any other source.

11) "Hunting with the Bow & Arrow" inscribed inside front cover "To Miss Marion A. Schwing who enjoys the great out of doors. from Arthur H. Young" opposite page in same pen under Marion's name plate is dated "From 1927" an informative newspaper article about Art Young shooting Lions with the bow and arrow is glued to the following page.

[59Alaskan]

Signatures bring the history even more alive.  Very cool!

[Liquid Amber]

Describing Wade's collections as impressive seems inadequate.

I found the following in a 1st addition of "Wild Adventure" I purchased for $30.  It was not noted as being signed.     Don Carson, with the exception of Glenn Curtiss,  is the only one who recorded first hand observations of Hill's early years in the Miami, FL. area, later to be published as "Early Adventures of Howard Hill."  Prior to this book, what had been written about Hill's early years was mostly speculation and hearsay.  I cannot emphasis how important this volume is for the history of Howard Hill.  

 

[Twitko]

I scanned this letter/note today to post it on FB. Hope you'd enjoy it here, too :-)
   

and I'd like add two additional info.

First one comes from Fred's secretary : "   This note was typed on Fred's Olympia typewriter as it had a distinct typeface. The 76 catalog was the catalog about Grayling. I have no idea who Josh is...............Apple, Dick, (myself)Putts, Kinsey and Haller all worked closely on the catalog. No Josh in my memory bank but knowing Fred it could have been some name he could have coined for Lattimer, he was always doing things like that to give Dick a hard time. It is authentic. I'd guess that it was some kind of joke on Lattimer as Fred and Bob were so good at."

Second info I got just today : "Dick Lattimer wrote under the pseudonym of Joshua Carpenter. Much of that writing related to religious topics, thus the cryptic reference to "JC", the carpenter ..."

TW

[Tox Collector]

Liquid Amber - I like the dual inscriptions of McMeen and Shepardson -- nice item to own.
I agree with you concerning Wade's signatures and inscriptions -- pretty awesome!
Last year I had a huge white pine limb fall on the house, which meant I had to box up many of my archery books because the library is stored all over the house and the carpenters and painters needed the books taken out of the rooms impacted by the limb.

I did come across several items that I had forgotten about.  I have two copies of John Schulz's "Straight Shooting" that are inscribed to me.  I was also sure that I had his book "Hitting 'Em Like Howard Hill" as well but hadn't seen the booklet in a while.  Turns out I have three inscribed to me.  Two of them also include Gary Sentman's signature dated 1975 with the bow poundage of 176#.

Also found two photographs that John Schulz sent me in 1977 and inscribed to me - one with a bear kill and the other a mule deer that he had taken.  Nice items to have.

Also located a first edition of "Bowhunting Big Game Records of North America" (Pope & Young Club Book - this is copy 157 of a limited edition of 200 copies).  The book is inscribed: "Happy Hunting David Sterling"  - Fred Bear, 1976.

I also have a photograph of a brown bear that Fred Bear inscribed to me as well and a book he wrote that he inscribed to my wife and I.

You may wonder how I ended up with these items from Fred.  Before Bear Archery moved to Florida, the Bears used to take a winter vacation in Florida.  A good friend of my wife's family used to used to go to the same place in Florida and got to know the Bears.  I'm sure that Mrs. Bear prevailed upon Fred for these items -- they are sure nice items to have -- particularly when they are inscribed to you.

I have a number of signatures and inscriptions on other books in my library as well.

Wade notes that he has a book signed by the attendees of a tournament -- I have the same thing.

[Ted Fry]

Hey Cliff seems I have seen that book before, sitting right next to all the Howard Hill (Early Adventures)items on display here at Raptor Archery.
Thank you!
 

[Liquid Amber]

More folks will enjoy it in the Carson display than on my book shelf.  You were generous enough to let me use some of your material so I came out pretty good.  

Enjoyed the tour, will come by next time we get to Portland.

[Jon Stewart]

Fred Bears Feild Notes signed by Fred Bear to my dad.

Hunt with Fred Bear signed by Dick Lattimer.

Fred Bear by Charlie Kroll sign to me by Charlie

Monte Brownings book sign by Monte.