J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

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Tonkin Wand
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J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Tonkin Wand »

Hi forum , Does anyone have signed and dedicated copies of J.W.Martins books especially low numbered or dated copies.I have made a guess at a run of 1000 copies per title could be numbered and many unnumbered copies of each book were sold.I know of one being no2 a gift to a named friend; were there others, Trent Otter was good at P.R. (spin). Tony.

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Lea Dweller
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Lea Dweller »

I have a signed copy of The Trent Otter on Coarse Fish Angling signed and numbered 421. There is also a hand written date in pencil on the top right corner of the same page dated 18th April 1909.

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Tonkin Wand
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Tonkin Wand »

Hi Lea Dweller, Thanks for your quick response and information.Having just checked my copy is nether signed or dated .I think this will now prompt me to keep some sort of log.I know that from the adverts he is at his last address,same road bigger premises and was storing his books, but sales must have been relatively good. One of his titles ,I have is numbered 1965 so a rethink on the print run is due,of course if he was consecutively numbering them.The first world war done for him and the trade generally and he died in poverty but that's another story. Regards ..Tony .

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Paul F
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Paul F »

Hi Tony,
I have the following collection;
1. barbel, chub(1896) & pike fishing(1898) bound in one cloth volume, the front endpaper is missing so don't know if this was signed
2. barbel, chub(1896) & roach, rudd & bream(1896) bound in one leather volume, this is later bound and I suspect they were originally cheap card cover 1 penny volumes.
3.The Nottingham style 1882 1st ed, not signed, it has the previous owners name & address written neatly in ink on front endpaper
4. The Nottingham Style 1885 2nd revised, not signed
5. Little Angling Book 1910 1st, not signed
6. Practical Fishing 1906 1st, not signed
7. Practical Fishing 1906 1st, not signed
8. My fishing days 1906 1st, No 682 signed JW Martin
9. Roach, rudd & bream fishing 1905 2nd revised & enlarged, rare card covers, not signed
10. Roach, rudd & bream fishing 1905 2nd revised & enlarged, cloth, not numbered, but signed JW Martin (there is a small newspaper clipping glued to the front endpaper; Boys fishing match at Long Eaton, it goes on to mention 1st prize, set of angling books given by JW Martin, Trent Otter) I do wonder if this was one of the books?
11. Days among the Pike & Perch 1907 2nd edition, not numbered, signed JW Martin
12. On Coarse fish Angling (his greatest volume in my opinion) 1908 1st No 204 signed JW Martin, this came with the original invoice from the Seymour St, London address with a note about a error in a previous book, this letter is signed JW Martin

Paul

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Tonkin Wand
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Tonkin Wand »

Hi Paul, Thank you for such a prompt and full reply .The copies have a familar ring to them for me, Ebay perhaps, well done.From your return I now know that J.W.M. signed without numbering seems somewhat fickle.Just worth a check on the book given as a prize .After Trent Otters death his son was active in match fishing AND had old book stock from his father could his son G.S. Martin have donated the book.It would have been good publicity for son's tackle business ?I have a similar donated book given to a fishing club library.I must co-late all this info . Your invoice is a wonderful find I have never seen any emphenore or artifacts from the shops except rods and reels .Just remembered an advert printed in the Pole Fishing book but that is G.S.Martin post 1920.Kind regards and thanks again Tony.

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Paul F
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Paul F »

Hi Tony,
Only 2 of the books came from ebay, the others I have collected over the past 15 or so years from specialist book auctions or dealer sites.
The book which given as a prize was printed in 1905, Martin died in 1915, I don't understand why that would not have been given by himself in 1905?
In my opinion the 1st edition roach, rudd & bream book is the scarcest title, I have only seen two other edition
My personal favourite read is the Nottingham style, I have read that 3 times.
On Coarse fish angling is the most concise volume, and worthy of any angling book collection.
Cheers,
Paul

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Tonkin Wand
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Tonkin Wand »

Hi Paul ,thanks or continuing with the discussion.I purchased my 1st book in a job lot of hunting books I was interested in .I never forsoare the path which it would take me! Your prize book very much interests me. 1905 edition is known for certain but unless the paper cutting is dated it can only be conjecture as to when it was awarded. My point is that unless similar gifts turn up related to J.W.M. benevolence there is a question mark. For a similar award of a book was given much later by his son as I outlined. Father and son were "full of their own self esteeme", by good fortune I have had via his family an account from one who resided with the Martins. I do hope others are prompted to devoluge and share even snipets of info to assist me.Tony..

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Paul F
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Paul F »

Tonkin Wand wrote: Mon Sep 03, 2018 3:58 pm Hi Paul ,thanks or continuing with the discussion.I purchased my 1st book in a job lot of hunting books I was interested in .I never forsoare the path which it would take me! Your prize book very much interests me. 1905 edition is known for certain but unless the paper cutting is dated it can only be conjecture as to when it was awarded. My point is that unless similar gifts turn up related to J.W.M. benevolence there is a question mark. For a similar award of a book was given much later by his son as I outlined. Father and son were "full of their own self esteeme", by good fortune I have had via his family an account from one who resided with the Martins. I do hope others are prompted to devoluge and share even snipets of info to assist me.Tony..
Thanks for the reply Tony, that makes sense.

Do you have any of his tackle catalogues?

I saw one at Romsey tackle fair a few years ago, It was in fantastic condition, I think it was dated around 1910, the dealer wanted £200 for it, I nearly bought it, but couldn't justify £200 for a little catalogue at the time, in hindsight I wish I did!

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Tonkin Wand
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Tonkin Wand »

Hi Paul,Just read your reply and became aware of even the existence of such a catalogue .Any one out there prepared to own up and be the purchaser ? What nuggets of info must that contain .Almost certainly from the 22 Seymore Street premises.Thanks alot Tony.

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Badger1
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Re: J.W.Martin Books general inquiry

Post by Badger1 »

Hello Gents,

You have probably seen these snippets before but for others.....a couple of pictures of newspaper cuttings about JWM death in 1915.

Badger1
40685501_2141798822562042_3134678586745683968_n.jpg
40773596_2141798852562039_1586098827905990656_n.jpg
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