Published by [Self-Published], [Redlands, CA], 1970
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Contents held in a three-ring binder with twelve plastic pocket sleeves, 11.5 x 9.75". Approximately 66 color snapshots (3.5 x 4.25"), 13 black and white publicity photos of Fetchie and Gil Tomes (5 x 7") and 2 glossy black and white press photos of Fetchet and Tomes (10 x 6.5"), one photographic reproduction of the Redlands Mall, one periodical clipping featuring an article on Fetchie and four newspaper clippings. Good with some splitting and rubbing to binder, toning to snapshots and newsclippings. Some notations written in pen on the back of the covers and slight yellowing to sleeves. A lovingly assembled album of snapshots, news clippings and press photos of two adorable dogs, a rescued Cocker Spaniel Dachshund mix named Fetchie and his sister, Fetchet, a yellow Labrador mix, both fearless as they accompany their human, Gil, a pipe organ repairman, alongside his motorcycle adventures in and around Southern California. The album is filled with sweet photos of Fetchie clad in a dog-sized Washington Redskins helmet, children's swimming goggles (dog goggles not being readily available) and protective riding shirts made specially by his people. Fetchie can be seen on the banks of a river, in front of tall Ponderosa pines, and sweeping desert vistas. Fetchet is shown as a tiny puppy with a much too big Dallas Cowboys helmet atop her head and often seen in the arms of Gil's smiling family members. Later in the album one views her getting older and fitting into aforementioned biker helmet, appearing confident and ready for an adventure. The two biker dogs received quite a lot of attention from the the residents in and around Santa Barbara, "Gil and Fetchet have been photographed by hundreds of curious motorists, journalists, and magazine writers for years. Gil reported that motorists often get out of their cars at stop lights to capture some memorable shots of Fetchet perched in front of Gil like a gas-tank ornament." It seems that these hounds weren't just courageous, but motivated by pastry treats: "And of course, the question everyone asks is: 'How did you ever get such a scruffy looking creature to ride a motorcycle?' The answer: 'For the love of donuts!' An endearing album, guaranteed to brighten the day of any dog-owner.