Walton, Izaak and Charles Cotton

Two editions of The Compleat Angler from the first half of the nineteenth century inlcuding the lavishly illustrated Pickering edition, edited by Sir Harris Nichols, and the first Bethune edition, published in New York:



The Complete Angler or the Contemplative Man's Recreation. London: William Pickering, 1836. 2 vols., 4to. Title-pages in red and black, 15 engraved plates, numerous engraved text illustrations and ornamental headpieces; moderate browning, staining and foxing. Nineteenth-century brown morocco panelled gilt, the spines in 6 compartments gilt, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. The first Nicholas edition (Coigney 44; Horne 43; Oliver 41). — The Complete Angler ... New York & London: Wiley & Putnam, 1847. 2 parts in one volume, 4 engraved plates, 4 full-page illustrations with proofs before letters, 19 woodcut text illustrations of fish with full-page proofs before letters; occasional marginal spotting and foxing. Later half tan morocco over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt; minor rubbing. Quarter morocco folding case. The first Bethune edition, 1 of 50 large paper copies. (Coigney 61; Horne 60; Oliver 58).

Bethune edition: J. W. Brooks (bookplate)