THE COMPLETE ANGLER. Extensively Embellished with Engravings on Copper and Wood, from Original Paintings and Drawings, by First-Rate Artists. To which are added, An Introductory Essay; The Linnaean Arrangement of the Various River-Fish Delineated in the Work; and Illustrated Notes

A very early printing of John Major's important edition of Complete Angler, being only the second. With 14 copper-engraved plates, including 2 portraits, 2 plates of music, and 10 lovely illustrations engraved by Cook and Pye after drawings by Wale and Nash, and with 77 woodcuts throughout the text. 8vo, in a very handsome later binding of full burgundy morocco, both boards with an ornate gilt-rolled border, the spine with tasteful gilt stippled bands ruled in blind creating compartments with large but simple central gilt tools, two compartments with contrasting tan and ivory morocco labels gilt lettered and tooled, marbled endpapers, a.e.g. lviii, 416 pp. A very fine copy, the text is very fresh and clean with only trivial of aging or mellowing, the binding in pristine condition.

Edizione: john major's superb illustrated edition of walton's complete angler, but for an improved and larger frontispiece portrait, a minor reordering of the preliminary material, and a slight change to the notes, this is otherwise an exact reprint of the first major edition printed the previous year.<br> the complete angler is a great sporting book, and one of the most treasured works in the english language. walton's angler has been described as "full of wisdom, kindly humour, and charity; it is one of the most delightful and care-dispelling books in the language." "more than most authors he lives in his writings, which are the pure expression of a kind, humorous and pious soul in love with nature, while the expression itself is unique for apparent simplicity which is really elaborately studied art" (dnb).