The Compleat Angler: Or, The Contemplative Man's Recreation: Being a Discourse of Rivers, Fishponds, Fish and Fishing Not Unworthy the Perusal of Most Anglers

A truly fine (in fact spectacular) copy in a near fine example of the original jacket and a near fine example of the rare 2-part publisher's box with large pictorial coverlabel and small title label on bottom edge (jacket has several closed tears; box has minor stains and a crack). A fine copy of the book in the original green pictorial cloth, top edge gilt (slight spotting to cloth). The title page and spine have the McKay imprint, the jacket spine has the Harrap imprint, and the box has no imprint. First printing of this edition. 223, [1] pages + plates. First American printing, with the text of the 1897 Le Gallienne edition (text of the Walton portion of the fifth edition of 1676), with a preface by Henry Williamson (and omitting Le Gallienne's preface and notes). Notable particularly for the 12 color plates by Rackham. Oliver #277 (the 88th edition of Walton alone); Latimore & Haskell, pages 66-67; 'Printed in Great Britain by The Riverside Press Limited / Edinburgh' (title page verso).Rackham, Arthur (illustrator); 12 Color Illustrations / plates; 25 b/w Illustrations; Pictorial Endpapers (dark green/green); Title Page (green/black/white).…