Description
Hunting-Fishing and Camping by L.L. Bean, signed by the author and founder of the retail company, Leon Leonwood Bean.
Octavo, 104pp. Red pebbled cloth, flexible boards, title stamped in gilt on front cover. Gilt on front cover slightly faded. Illustrated endpapers with maps of Maine. Hundreds of black and white photographs throughout the text. Touch of wear to front cover, internally clean.
Signed on the copyright page by L.L. Bean in blue pen.
The first edition of Hunting-Fishing and Camping by L.L. Bean was published in 1942 and limited to 5000 copies. Subsequent printings were produced with 10,000 per run, but signed copies remain elusive. The author, Leon Leonwood Bean (1872 ? 1967), founded the L.L.Bean company in 1912, starting with the Maine Hunting Shoe, which combined leather uppers with waterproof rubber bottoms. Despite initial setbacks with defective products, Bean’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, including a generous return policy, led to the company’s success. By 1917, Bean had a retail store in Freeport, Maine, which became a flagship store open 24/7 year-round. The company’s detailed catalogs, first published in 1927, contributed to its growth, offering a wide range of outdoor gear, clothing, and accessories. L.L.Bean remains a family-owned business, known for its durable products and exceptional customer service, with a global presence including stores in the United States and Japan.
