Description
First edition, first printing of Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose, inscribed by Staff Sgt. John Martin of Easy Company.
Octavo, 335pp. Purple cloth spine, beige boards, title in gilt on spine. First edition, first printing, with full number line on copyright page. Ownership inscription on front free endpaper. In publisher’s first state dust jacket, $25.00 on front flap, sunning to spine, a very good example. Inscribed on the half title: “Dave __ – My Friend and Neighbor / Since this book includes my involvement in Bastogne, thought you may be interested. John Martin 6-16-95.”
Staff Sargent John W. Martin (1922-2005) was a member of Easy Company, of the 101st Airborne Division. Martin made his first combat jump into Normandy, as part of the D-Day Invasion (Operation Overlord). He continued to serve with Easy Company as they progressed towards Germany, seeing combat in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Martin returned to Columbus, Ohio where he attended The Ohio State University. He eventually landed in Phoenix, where he built a successful construction company. He was portrayed by Dexter Fletcher in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. Martin died in 2005.
