THE COMPLETE ANGLER, Or The Contemplative Man's Recreation. With Lives of the Authors, and Variorum Notes, Historical and Practical. Edited by Edward Jesse, Esq. To Which Are Added Papers on Fishing-Tackle, Fishing Stations, Etc., by Henry G. Bohn

First edition thus, being the first by Henry Bohn and the first Edward Jesse edition and with these various additions and illustrations. With 26 fine steel-engraved illustrations, each with tissue-guards and including the portrait of Walton as frontispiece, also with a decorated half-title, dedication, vignette titlepage, and over 200 woodcut illustrations throughout the text. 8vo, in an attractive binding by Horace G. Commin of three-quarter green morocco over green cloth-covered boards, the spine with blind-ruled tall bands creating five compartments, four of which with central gilt tool of a fishing basket, the remaining compartment gilt lettered, gilt lettering at the tail, marbled endpapers, t.e.g. xix, 496, [1] pp. A very handsome copy, the text solid and clean with just a bit of mellowing and some minor spotting to the prelims and early leaves, the steel engraved plates rich and clean and fine, the binding sturdy and well preserved with little wear, the green morocco mellowed to a pleasant tone of honey as is typical.

Edizione: the first bohn edition of this beloved classic of the english language. bohn's edition included many valuable additions. there are lives of both walton and cotton, edward jesse's preface, commendatory verses, walton's will, nearly 40 pages of bohn's own notes on places to fish with an index of rivers, a use general index, a list of sources for fishing tackle. added to this are the beautiful steel-engraved plates, which are sometime not found included. the images are warm and well suited to the text. lastly there are hundreds of fine woodcut illustrations by numerous noted artists all throughout.<br> walton's angler has been described as "full of wisdom, kindly humour, and charity; it is one of the most delightful and care-dispelling books in the language." "more than most authors he lives in his writings, which are the pure expression of a kind, humorous and pious soul in love with nature, while the expression itself is unique for apparent simplicity which is really elaborately studied art" (dnb).<br> angler has also been called one of the first modern "how to" books, but is far more than a straightforward guide to fishing; for it celebrates the art of fishing with verses, songs, folklore, and timeless wisdom in its form of a dialogue between veteran angler and his student. it both informs and delights, and as charles lamb observed, "breathes the very spirit of innocence, purity, and simplicity of heart . it would sweeten a man's temper at any time to read it."