Author:
WALTON Izaak
Title:
The Compleat Angler
Price:
£3800.00
Year:
1836
Edition:
1st Nicholas Edn,
Publisher:
William Pickering
Summary:
originally published in 2 volumes, this set extended to 4 volumes with the addition of 348 plates, many of the plates are window mounted. The plates cover a variety of subjects and dates, 135 of the plates relate to fish and fishing, 26 being hand coloured. There are also 92 portraits and 122 on various subjects including natural history, 19 being hand coloured mostly of birds, topographical views and religious subjects. Gilt to all edges, gauffered with decoration within triangular rolls. Bound in full green morocco with inner gilt rolled tooling, the boards have 2 gilt lined borders with inner gilt double ruled with ornate tooled corners. The spine in 5 compartments, gilt ruled titles to two compartments the remaining fish within decorative borders. Very light rubbing to outer edges and corners. "This edition was edited by Sir Harris Nicholas. And it has been the occasion for much extravagant admiration" (Oliver). This edition was illustrated by some of the foremost contemporary artists and produced by an excellent printer and publisher. Although Westwood notes: "this fine book is over dressed". "It is maudlin. The milkmaid tricked out in a gown of brocade with a mantle of cloth of gold. Netherless as the monument has been reared let us accept it, for what it is, one of the handsomest publications of modern times an ornament to the angler's library, unique of its kind and perhaps destined to remain so." This edition was a favourite of the extra-illustrator; Coigney notes "a copy extended to 12 folio volumes and a copy exhibited at the fisheries exhibition of 1833 was extended to 41 volumes with the addition of 5000 extra illustrations". A unique copy and a fine example in the art of extra illustrating. Coigney 44, Oliver 41, Home 59, Westwood 228
Ref:
11966