Featured 1939 Martin's Pheasant in a Can help with info

Hello all,

I ran across this yesterday. It is in remarkable condition for 87 years. I have tried to research and post of Reddit (useless). I can't seem to find anything on Samuel Martin. Because of the condition I think must have some value. Any help is much appreciated.

 

You can find some snippets via Google Books. Canner and packer of products from his game farm outside of Seattle. Seems to have been active in the 1940s. The copyright is for the brand name and doesn't accurately date the can or the product itself.

Debora

 

I found this through AI, FWIW. Wild Life in the Kitchen" is a novelty line of gourmet game products (such as pheasant) popularized in 1950s specialty food stores.

And this link: http://www.gourmet.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/magazine/1950s/1950/10/foodflashes.html

 

Well done! It would have been an expensive delicacy item; knew there would be mention in the gourmet food press (but not able to find anything.)

Debora

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/177365665959

 

Shame the wildlife artist isn't identified. And I'd assume there was another version for the two turkey products.

Debora

 

https://downloads.densho.org/ddr-densho-56/ddr-densho-56-757-mezzanine-8bbfadd7ba.pdf

 

Must have been immediate post-war what with the reference to U-boats.

Debora

 

It's an ad in the Seattle Times of April 16, 1942

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133007392934

 

Ah, interesting. Then a very topical reference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Happy_Time

Debora

 

There's Scotty again on the label.

Debora

 

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4222036/exeter-co-v-samuel-martin-ltd/

 

"4. By all means save the gravy; it is the very essence of the Pheasant."

I love that! What an idiosyncratic guy.

 

From the appearance of the can (no puffy ends, no seam or other rusty or leaky areas), I'd open an' taste it. There are risks, of course...but likely minor. What it looks like an' smells like will tell the story...BICBW!

 

Wow, all this from a can of bird!

 

This made me think of the MASH episode where Charles & Margaret share a basket of food that included canned pheasant.

https://mash.fandom.com/wiki/The_Grim_Reaper_(TV_series_episode)

 

you guys are killin me..........

 

The two digits next to the A.C. Co. mice type is the factory number. (94 = Seattle) The next two symbols are for the date of manufacture. Can you post a close-up or describe them?

Debora