1895 Repro Catalog

[Ed Blake]

While in a used bookstore at lunch I came across one of the copies of the 1895 catalog done by Larry Baer in 1975 for $75. Is it worth having for that?

[Dave Suponski]

Ed,Run.... Don,t walk.... Back to that store!

[Ed Blake]

Thanks Dave. It's in excellent condition and it really caught my eye. The photos are great.

[Bill Murphy]

It is a great buy, probably selling for multiples of that price on the collector market. Get it and sell it here if you don't want to keep it.

[Bruce Day]

If you are referring to the large format folio 1895 New York showroom catalog with engraved drawings of the entire product line, Baer only produced 500 of them and they were sold only to original subscribers of his deluxe two volume edition on Parkers. The engravings are first rate and the book is an unusual find. The value is several times the asking price, if you can find one for sale. I am fortunate to have the entire Baer set with folio and came by it years ago.

However, if you are referring to a small 1895 inexpensive paper reproduction of the Parker line, such free upon mailing or pickup then, these are common and the price is high.

I can't tell what you have, but I can photograph what I am talking about if that is helpful.

[Chuck Bishop]

Anybody have any information on Larry Baer? Alive or dead? I have his 2 volume set which really peaked my interest in Parkers years ago. Was he a major collector, dealer, shooter?

Just wondering.

[Bruce Day]

Alive and up in Montana, Kalispell I believe, the Flathead Valley. Moved from Visalia CA.
Major West Coast dealer. Appeared at PGCA meeting and gave talk, maybe about 12 years ago. Retired.

[Chuck Bishop]

Bruce, perhaps you could talk him into attending the PGCA banquet. Guest speaker???

[Ed Blake]

Bruce - This is a very long, brown, hard-bound catalog published by the Jostens Yearbook Co. in 1974 as a reproduction of an original owned by Larry Baer. There is a gilded Parker gun on the front. I picked it up on the way home from work yesterday.

[Bill Murphy]

Congratulations. Not every Parker collector who is interested in owning this great volume has had the opportunity to purchase one.

[Bruce Day]

That's the one Ed. A real find and scarce. It came with the two volume deluxe edition of the Baer Parker books, both done in yearbook binding by Jostens. You had to buy those before you could buy the NY showroom catalog reproduction.

If you could find the two vol deluxe set of the Baer books that would be great. They are numbered sets. The books are well done, and he makes comments about restorations that are as true today as they were in 1975.

[Dave Suponski]

Nice Find Ed ..Congratulations. I bought my 2 volume signed and numbered set along with the salesmans catalog years ago and I think I payed $250.00 for it then. If you ever wish to sell it I think you can easily recover your money and make a few bucks to boot.

[Ed Blake]

Dave - I think I'll keep it. What i really want to find is an example of the DH shown with monte carlo stock with straight grip and skeleton butt. Wow.

[Dave Suponski]

I agree Ed. Keep an eye on Ebay. The two volume set by Baer shows up every so often. Is your catalog signed and numbered? I would think it is.

[Ed Blake]

It's not signed but it is #327.

[Bruce Day]

SN 455

[Carl Brandt]

Of all the catalogs, this is the one from which I would love to place an order.

[Bill Murphy]

Carl, you have said it all.

[Donovan Kirkpatrick]

You really found a deal. Good luck on it still being there. I paid 275 a year or so ago at an auction. Thought it was something to do with reproduction Parkers. Misread. Speed can cost one. Saw one on ebay a while back for 175. See what a deal that might be.

[Tom Brown]

Rare Parker 1974 Larry Baer 1895 showroom catalog, hardcover 19 1/2" x 8". Hammer and hammerless damascus, limited edition of 500, clear images, 3D gold SxS on brown cover. Excellent condition, $375. plus $20. shipping and handeling. T.

[Tom Brown]

For those that pm'd me, sale pending funds clearing. T.

[Tom Brown]

Sold!