Beschreibung:

BOWLKER, RICHARD [or Charles Bowlker] The Art of Angling Improved in All Its parts, Especially Fly-Fishing; Containing a Particular Account of the Several Sorts of Freshwater Fish, with Their Most Proper Baits; Also, the Names, Colors, and Seasons of the Most Useful Flies, &c.; With Directions for Making Each Fly Artificially in the Most Exact Manner, &c.; the Whole Interspers'd with Many Curious and Uncommon Observation. Worcester: Printed by M. Olivers, n.d. [1747? or 1758?]. First edition. Period brown calf, double gilt rule to covers, leather label and gilt rules on spine. 5 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches (15 x 9.5 cm); (4), 95, [1] pp. Very good, solid copy in a period binding, chipped at head of spine, joints cracked. The Robert Hoe copy with his bookplate, as well as that of his son Arthur Hoe. Westwood/Satchell, p. 39: "The first edition appeared in the name of Richard Bowlker, the father, but in the second, printed by Baskerville, Charles Bowlker seems to lay claim to the work. He says, in the preface, 'I have been a practitioner in this art near 26 years, and according to my practice and experience, have contrived, considered, and fitted this for publication' ... [Charles] was considered the most finished fly-fisher of his day." Heckscher 251: "Rare." Sage Catalogue, p. 41: 'Very scarce." Gingrich Fishing in Print, pp. 69-74; ESTC T112413. C Estate of Arnold 'Jake' Johnson