The Rare First, Taverner's Copy
The Art of Angling Improved, in all its parts, Especially Fly-Fishing: Containing A particular Account of the several Sorts of Fresh-Water Fish, with their most proper Baits. Also The Names, Colours, and Seasons of all the most Useful Flies. With Directions for Making each Fly.
Worcester: Printed by M. Olivers, [ca. 1747].
First edition. Printer's ornaments at beginning and end of text. [4], 95 pp. 1 vols. Small 8vo. The Rare First, Taverner's Copy. Contemporary panelled calf, neatly rebacked and repaired, front and rear free endpapers renewed Westwood & Satchell, pp. 39-40; Heckscher 251: ESTC T112413 (dating this edition 1758?); Gingrich, Fishing in Print, pp. 69-74; Sage Catalogue, p. 41. Item #230553
Westwood & Satchell note that although only Richard Bowlker's name appears in the first edition, in the second, his son Charles seems to lay claim to the work. At his death in 1779, Charles "was considered the most finished fly-fisher of his day." The work went into many editions: this, the first, is a rare book indeed.
This particular copy has a distinguished provenance. The rear pastedown bears an interesting ownership inscription, dated 1758, of John Rogers, from the borough of Stone in Shropshire; and the front pastedown bears the following inscription, linking this rare incunable of fly fishing to two modern masters: "John Waller Hills to Eric Taverner."
For Hills, see pp. 130-6 of Robb's Notable Angling Literature; Taverner is author of Trout Fishing from All Angles and Salmon Fishing (both titles in the Lonsdale Library), The Making of a Trout Stream, etc., etc.
Price: $8,000.00 Free International Delivery
