Beschreibung:

Title: Fishing With Hook and Line: A Manual for Amateur Anglers. Containing Descriptions of Popular Fishes and Their Habits, Preparation of Baits, &c. &c. Author: Forester, Frank [pseud. of Henry William Herbert] Place: New York Publisher: Brother Jonathan Office Date: [1858] Description: 64 pp. With 8 wood-engraved plates of fish, plus other figure drawings. 6½x4¼, original buff illustrated wrappers. First Edition. The first edition of perhaps the most rare of all American fishing books, one of only a handful of copies known to exist. Van Winkle knew of only two copies, those in his collection. This copy does not match either of Van Winkle’s copies, with the seventh plate (Sea Bass) faces page 37 and the eighth plate (Tautog, or Black-Fish) faces page 58; Van Winkle’s Copy A, eighth plate, Cat-fish, faces page 34, and his Copy B with the eighth plate faces page 35. Van Winkle notes that "Since there is no list of illustrations, it may be assumed that the difference in the plates is due to the binder, and is not a `point' of issue." In the lower margin of the plate facing page 13 is the printed note, "All the Drawings by B. Day - form live fish in the Aquarium at Barnum's American Museum, New York." Of the few copies known to exist (including the two Van Winkle copies, one in the Harvard library and the one sold at auction in the January 2002 PBA Jeffrey Norton Angling Sale Part I, and this one), this certainly would be the rarest American fishing book, seldom offered on market. Lot Amendments Condition: A few medium chips, large tears, creases, old glue repairs along spine, mild toning; several plates and leaves loosely laid in, old ink and pencil notes and marks to the title page, the inside covers and to most of the plate versos; a fair to good copy of this exceedingly scarce and important angling item. Item number: 156013