The Winchester Book|General Discussions & Questions|Forum|Winchester Collector

I’ve never believed they were actually hand-signed, mine looks like a printed signature, although every advertisement or listing you see says “author signed.” Maybe someone else can chime in if there was truly a “signed” edition with a real signature. There’s still some folks on here who knew George. 

Unless you’re chasing a collectible or other reasons, I’d shop on eBay and all the used book places for any reasonable condition copy, there’s a lot of them and most are not very much money compared to other limited-run books of our hobby…

I wouldn’t consider a Winchester reference library of any size complete without a copy of Madis’ Winchester Book and possibly other books he wrote. Admittedly some better information is available now but the book has tons of good information. I think some editions have better quality paper than others. The paper and photo quality of my first edition isn’t great but later editions, especially recent editions, are definitely not a good investment. 

Mike

TXGunNut said
I wouldn’t consider a Winchester reference library of any size complete without a copy of Madis’ Winchester Book and possibly other books he wrote. Admittedly some better information is available now but the book has tons of good information. I think some editions have better quality paper than others. The paper and photo quality of my first edition isn’t great but later editions, especially recent editions, are definitely not a good investment. 
 
Mike
  

It’s surprising you say that as I received a copy about Christmas of 1985 and it was the newest copy available at the time.  Graphics appear to be reprints of black & white photographs and of poor resolution.

Recently, I decided I wanted a copy of Snyder’s book on Ithaca shotguns and didn’t want to pay the $750 or so most are listed for—never mind they’re not actually worth that.  And so I found that book along with 37 others I got at auction shipped to my doorstep for $661 for everything .  In this lot was a first edition of Madis’ book and I was surprised at how much nicer the glossy pages were and how much more detail was in each photograph.

Madis’ works are dated but valuable.  Now, there are quality books on the 1873, 1876, 1885, and 1895 that are remarkable in scope and extent.  We need a comprehensive publication about the Model 1886, however.

My first edition is signed on the inside cover before the title page “with the best wishes of the author, Dallas, Texas. November 20, 1961. George Madis”. I bought it used on Ebay for a very reasonable price long before the prices got way out of hand. 

My 1963 & 1969 editions are unsigned. My old man has the edition before the 1985 edition came out and when he bought it was already signed but Dad later meet up with George in Dallas at a TGCA show and George personalized it, so his copy is actually signed twice. Years later Dad had a 1st Model 76 SRC that George was admiring at the show and offered to write a letter on it, but dad told him not to worry with it as he didn’t want to bother him about it. When the show was over Dad said he just about had to pry it from George’s hands to leave the show. I kinda wish now we had the letter, but oh well! Not long before George’s passing we went to the TGCA and had gotten word that George was sick under the weather and wasn’t going to make the show.  

Not long after George’s passing I purchased the 1985 edition from Pat. But it had to of been a more recent re-printing of the book that she had made up or re-ordered, as it was brand new still sealed and it took Pat a while to get it to me. And there’s no way it was 20 something years old at the time I purchased it.

I do like the quality of the paper of the earlier editions but I imagine that the 1985 edition was printed on a lesser quality paper to help save on the cost of the book and its almost three times the size of the first edition. 

     When I buy gun books it’s for reference not the collectability of the book. The latest edition usually has the most information and mistakes corrected. If the book has pictures then of course quality of pictures and paper matter. Paper back reprints are not desirable. T/R 

TR said
     When I buy gun books it’s for reference not the collectability of the book. The latest edition usually has the most information and mistakes corrected. If the book has pictures then of course quality of pictures and paper matter. Paper back reprints are not desirable. T/R 
  

I’m not a book collector but some of the books in my reference library have appreciated more than the guns they helped me make buying decisions on. The photos in my copy vary in quality. On closer inspection it appears to be a “first edition” but a 1985 printing. A bit confusing. Just another Madis mystery.

Mike