Home / Browse / Autographs & Signed Books / The Compleat Angler,
(RACKHAM, Arthur) WALTON, Izaak.
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.
Publisher: London, George G. Harrap & Co., [1931]
Stock code: 32366
Price: £19,500 Currency Conversion
Signed Limited Edition, Special Issue. The book is signed on the limitation page by Rackham and opposite is an humorous original ink and watercolour image, signed in full by the artist. The image depicts an angler chasing a frog and Rackham has added the caption, "Live Bait". This is one of the ten special copies commissioned by Harrap, which has the deluxe leather binding and an original watercolour. Each of the ten watercolours depicts a different scene. This one being especially charming with its good use of humour. On writing about original images drawn or painted in the books, Rackham pointed out that, "... my little sketches must inevitably be of a light hearted or joking nature... They have to be spontaneous and free handed. The nature of the paper is such that there can be no preparatory drawing and no alterations".
Quarto. Beautifully bound for the publishers to Rackham's design by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full red morocco, covers elaborately panelled gilt with fish design in each corner, spine paneled gilt with fish motif repeated, titles to spine gilt, inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Twelve colour plates, with descriptive tissue guards, and twenty-five drawings in black and white. Bookplate of Paul E. Chevalier to the front pastedown A fine copy of this very special book. There is minor rubbing to the bottom section of the upper joint, otherwise a remarkable copy, housed in custom made cloth box.
