The Complete Angler. Or, the Contemplative Man's Recreation -
Izaak Walton, Charles Cotton, Edward Jesse (editor)
1861 - Henry G. Bohn, London - The Second Jesse Edition
A finely bound copy of one of the most profusely illustrated editions, the second to be edited by Edward Jesse. According to Oliver, ‘this edition has been criticized as having been somewhat too fully annotated and illustrated, but the illustrations, in our opinion, add as much to the charm of the book, as the notes do to its interest’.
‘Indeed, my good scholar, we may say of angling, as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries,
" Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did ";
and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.’
The most enduring distinction of the Complete Angler is the one cast off by its subtitle The Contemplative Man's Recreation with its graceful evocations of a life free from hurly-burly in the company of friends intent on physical and moral sustenance. The range of perspectives that Walton brings to bear on his rural descriptions embrace literature, poetry, music and anecdote. 203 wood engravings, together with two engraved plates by Robinson after Huysman and Lely. The wood engravings are by Huysman, Archer, Lombart, Absolon, Jansen, Cooper, Wood, Lyvyus, Creswick, Lely, Balmer, Bentley, Meadows, Harvey, Bewick, Prior, W. F. Smith, Chantrey, Beckwith, Holland, Salter, Sambourne, Foster, Gilbert, Cruikshank, Hilditch, Jardine, Lance, Lee, Fussell, Carpenter, Crowquill, Farlow, Gumpertz, and Rennie; engraved by M. & J. Jackson, Landells, Bewick, Vizetelly, Gilkes, Orrin Smith, Topham, Thompson, Wragg, Whymper, Vasey, Tol- frey, Lizars, Linton, Branston, Robinson, Archer, Collard, Willmore, Griffiths, Vosterman, Henshaw, Godden, Davis, and Radcliffe.
With additional Fishing papers by Henry G, Bohn.
Izaak Walton (1593-1683) was the son of a Stafford alehouse keeper. We know little of his early life but around 1611, he was apprenticed to Thomas Grinsell, of the Ironmonger’s Company. Walton completed his apprenticeship in 1617 and by 1624 had his own business a linen draper’s shop in Fleet, Street, London. In 1636, he married Rachel Flood and they had seven children. Rachel died in 1640, preceded by six of their children. The seventh child died two years later. Izaak married again in 1647 to Anne Ken and they had three children, two of whom lived into their sixties. After acquiring the draper’s shop, Walton held several public posts in his parish of St Dunstan’s in the West and became a senior member of the Ironmongers Company.
Whilst Izaak Walton was born of fairly humble origins, he had friends and contemporaries of social distinction. His first book was published in 1640 and was a biography of John Donne, the churchman and poet. In May 1963, The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation was published, it was re-issued four times during his life and the final edition in 1676 included a supplement on fly fishing written by his very close friend, Charles Cotton. Walton and Cotton spent many hours together, fishing on the River Dove.
Walton’s wealth increased during his lifetime, and he bought Halfhead Farm at Shallowford, where the Izaak Walton Cottage stands today. Walton never lived in the cottage but rented it out. Today, the cottage is a museum where the life and times of Izaak Walton is depicted. The museum also contains many items relating to the history of angling. Izaak Walton died at the age of 90 and is buried in Winchester Cathedral.
Reference: Oliver, A new chronicle of The Compleat Angler, 76.
Octavo (binding size 18.2x12.2cm), pp. [2] xix [1] 496 [1 (list of fishing-tackle makers)] [3]. Bound by Bayntun-Riviere in full light brown morocco, covers with a gilt fillet border, spine lettered in gilt on dark brown leather labels, emblematic centre tools, hand-marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Condition: Fine Ref: 109918 Price: HK$ 9,500
‘Indeed, my good scholar, we may say of angling, as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries,
" Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did ";
and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.’
The most enduring distinction of the Complete Angler is the one cast off by its subtitle The Contemplative Man's Recreation with its graceful evocations of a life free from hurly-burly in the company of friends intent on physical and moral sustenance. The range of perspectives that Walton brings to bear on his rural descriptions embrace literature, poetry, music and anecdote. 203 wood engravings, together with two engraved plates by Robinson after Huysman and Lely. The wood engravings are by Huysman, Archer, Lombart, Absolon, Jansen, Cooper, Wood, Lyvyus, Creswick, Lely, Balmer, Bentley, Meadows, Harvey, Bewick, Prior, W. F. Smith, Chantrey, Beckwith, Holland, Salter, Sambourne, Foster, Gilbert, Cruikshank, Hilditch, Jardine, Lance, Lee, Fussell, Carpenter, Crowquill, Farlow, Gumpertz, and Rennie; engraved by M. & J. Jackson, Landells, Bewick, Vizetelly, Gilkes, Orrin Smith, Topham, Thompson, Wragg, Whymper, Vasey, Tol- frey, Lizars, Linton, Branston, Robinson, Archer, Collard, Willmore, Griffiths, Vosterman, Henshaw, Godden, Davis, and Radcliffe.
With additional Fishing papers by Henry G, Bohn.
Izaak Walton (1593-1683) was the son of a Stafford alehouse keeper. We know little of his early life but around 1611, he was apprenticed to Thomas Grinsell, of the Ironmonger’s Company. Walton completed his apprenticeship in 1617 and by 1624 had his own business a linen draper’s shop in Fleet, Street, London. In 1636, he married Rachel Flood and they had seven children. Rachel died in 1640, preceded by six of their children. The seventh child died two years later. Izaak married again in 1647 to Anne Ken and they had three children, two of whom lived into their sixties. After acquiring the draper’s shop, Walton held several public posts in his parish of St Dunstan’s in the West and became a senior member of the Ironmongers Company.
Whilst Izaak Walton was born of fairly humble origins, he had friends and contemporaries of social distinction. His first book was published in 1640 and was a biography of John Donne, the churchman and poet. In May 1963, The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation was published, it was re-issued four times during his life and the final edition in 1676 included a supplement on fly fishing written by his very close friend, Charles Cotton. Walton and Cotton spent many hours together, fishing on the River Dove.
Walton’s wealth increased during his lifetime, and he bought Halfhead Farm at Shallowford, where the Izaak Walton Cottage stands today. Walton never lived in the cottage but rented it out. Today, the cottage is a museum where the life and times of Izaak Walton is depicted. The museum also contains many items relating to the history of angling. Izaak Walton died at the age of 90 and is buried in Winchester Cathedral.
Reference: Oliver, A new chronicle of The Compleat Angler, 76.
Octavo (binding size 18.2x12.2cm), pp. [2] xix [1] 496 [1 (list of fishing-tackle makers)] [3]. Bound by Bayntun-Riviere in full light brown morocco, covers with a gilt fillet border, spine lettered in gilt on dark brown leather labels, emblematic centre tools, hand-marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Condition: Fine Ref: 109918 Price: HK$ 9,500