The Complete Angler, or, The Contemplative Man's Recreation

Title: The Complete Angler, or, The Contemplative Man's Recreation

Author: Walton, Izaak and Charles Cotton

Publication: London: George Bell and Sons, 1900.

Description: The Bohn/Jesse edition of this classic celebration of fishing, reprinted from stereotype plates. Profusely illustrated in black-and-white with more than 200 wood engravings throughout the text, in addition to 26 captioned plates (steel engravings), including portraits of Walton and Cotton and a facsimile reproduction of the title page of the 1653 edition. With a preface by editor Edward Jesse, biographies of Walton and Cotton, Walton's will, commendatory verses, "The Angler's Song" with words and music set by Henry Lawes and harmonized for four voices by J.S. Major, and more than 30 pages of Bohn's notes on where to fish in England and Wales. In contemporary binding of full tan calfskin leather, with gilt double-fillet borders on covers and a gilt decorative roll on board edges and turn-ins; spine gilt in six compartments, with red and green lettering pieces in two compartments and fishing-themed devices in the remaining compartments; decorated endpapers; all edges gilt. 7.25 x 4.75 inches; xix, [3], 496 pages, [26] leaves of plates. Laid-in gift note to former owner ("May this improve your luck next time. Love, Bruce & M[orusa?]"), with illustration of fisherman in a boat. Binding with moderate edgewear, chipping of the leather, and front joint split, but with the sewing intact and a clean and bright interior. Very Good. Alternate spelling: The Compleat Angler.