The Complete Angler, or The Contemplative Man's Recreation
The Complete Angler, or The Contemplative Man's Recreation by Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton, London: William Pickering, 1826.
Collection of Bowling Green State University
Limp binding based on the non-adhesive “clip-on cover” structure. Covered in case of parchment processed by the binder: red snapper dyed in cochineal and walleye. Text block sewn long stitch into Hook Paper wrapper with pink linen thread, Ruscombe Mill endpapers, chemise of French Parchtone painted with shell gold behind loss. The two skins joined with fish parchment tackets painted with shell gold. Titled on fishing lure made by the binder, engraving by Brien Beidler. Bound 2023.
4 5/8 x 3 x 1 3/4”
11.5 x 7.5 x 4 cm
The Complete Angler is a meditation on nature, friendship, and of course fish and fishing. First published in 1653, it remains among the most reprinted English language books. This edition, like others printed in London in the early 19th century departs from the original spelling of the title The Compleat Angler.
Incorporating the title into the design of a binding can be a challenge, especially on the uneven surface the scale pockets leave on fish parchment. This spinner engraved with the title hooks into a hole created when processing the skin.
