56 American Fisheries Society 



constantly increasing value is due more to the desire of 

 collectors of "First Editions" of the English Classics 

 to possess a copy, than to the generally "poor but honest 

 angler." 



This library contains three copies of "The First 

 Walton," two perfect and one imperfect. The first copies 

 that left the press are distinguishable by several mis- 

 prints which do not exist in later impressions. One of 

 the most sought for of these misprints is that using 

 "contention" instead of "contentment" in the last two 

 lines of the verses by Sir Harry Wotton: "And, if 

 Contentment be a stranger then I'll ne'er look for it, but 

 in Heaven again." 



The second of the copies of the "First Walton" in the 

 library is a "contention" copy and has on its title pages 

 the autograph of "J. Venables" in a contemporary hand. 

 This is supposed to be the autograph of some member 

 of the family of Col. Robert Venables, who wrote the 

 third part of the fifth edition of "The Compleat Angler," 

 of whom more anon. 



This first edition was embellished by six very pretty 

 engravings of the trout, pike, carp, tench, perch and 

 barbel which were inserted in the text. The engraver 

 to this day is unknown. They have been attributed to 

 Pierre Lombart, a Frenchman and a noted engraver resi- 

 dent in England at that time and engaged in illustrating 

 books. Faithorne and Vaughn have also been mentioned 

 as possible candidates for the honor. The latter is known 

 to have been employed by Marriot on other work. 



It has always been the belief of collectors that these 

 plates were engraved on silver, but that fact has never 

 been proved and still remains a disputed fact in regard 

 to this wonderful little book. The same plates were 

 used for the first four editions and were re-engraved in 

 reverse, by a less artistic hand, for the fifth edition. 

 This fact has not been generally noted by bibliographers 

 up to 1883, when it is mentioned by Thos. Westwood. 

 Volumes could, indeed, have been written regarding this 

 best loved of all angling books. Famous writers by the 



