CHAPTER VIII. 



The First Editions of The Compleat Angler 

 Effect on My Library of the Abnormally 

 Early May-Fly Season of this Year (1893) 

 Curious Printer's Error in the Copies First 

 Printed of the Angler Walton's First Title- 

 Page His "Epistles Dedicatory" and "Ad- 

 dresses to the Reader " Some Past and 

 Present Monej'- Values of a First Edition. 



HAVE before me an original 

 copy of the FIRST EDITION of 

 Walton's book in a very perfect 

 state of preservation. I have 

 borrowed it from the " Amateur Angler," 

 who, writing in The Fishing Gazette on May 

 1 2th, 1888, says, in an article called "An 

 Outing with Izaak Walton on a Fine May 

 Morning " * : 



" I am the happy possessor of a perfect 

 copy of the first edition of The Compleat 

 Angler. The title runs thus : The Com- 

 pleat Angler^ or the Contemplative Man's 

 Recreation. 



* Since reprinted with other articles under the 

 title of Days in Clow" 



121 



