A Quaint Treatise on “Flees, and the Art a Artyfichall Flee Making” By An Old Man…with editorial notes…by W.H. Aldam.
London: John B. Day, 1876.
First edition, second issue. Two chromolithograph plates after James Poole, 2 completed flies and 23 flies with dressing materials displayed in 22 sunken mounts on six leaves. Title page printed in red and black, title and text printed within double red rules. xiii, [xiv, blank], [xv, errata], 91 pp. 1 vols. 4to. Original green cloth, upper cover with elaborate gilt and blind design and title, a.e.g. Bookplate of Edward Sands Litchfield. Faintest rubbing at head of spine, title page faintly foxed, pencil checks on contents page, else an exceptionally clean, fine copy. Custom full green morocco folding box with hand painted fly on spine panel Heckscher 18; Litchfield 49; Gee 84; Kerridge 79; Westwood & Satchell 3; Flyfisher's Journal, Summer 2000, pp.31-36. Item #260236
The manuscript upon which Aldam based his text appeared at auction in 1999; the author's name was revealed to be Robert Whitehead, but nothing further of the author is known. Both issues of this scarce work bear the date 1876 on the spine; a very few are recorded with a title page date of 1875, but it appears that no copies were actually sold until the Spring of 1876. Approximately 200 copies were sold over a period of several years.
A beautiful production, in brighter than usual condition, with a distinguished provenance.
Price: $13,500.00 Free International Delivery
