New-York tribune., 1876-02-12
LONDON LITERATURE.
yA1Tox,s "CoMpLEAT ANGLER.1

LrCToI-A MEMOIR OF GEN. BUBGoYNE FORTH
COMING.
lFEoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBUSEl
LoNDOX Jan. 2O.-Mr Elliot Stock, the publisher
IN F&.en0ster-Tow, who issued the so-called fac-
sim:le reprint OF the first edition of "Pilgrim'S
Progress" has followed il UP with of tho first
edition of Izaak Waltons "Compleat Angler"
Books Of this sort must he ranked as bibOcraphlca
euriOsities, yet they are not without interest ana
use. The accurate student will always be giad 10
have the means Of consulting an original edition.
and falling that an exact reproduction OF IT, Ollg
ina editions, need not say, OF seventeenth century
books are every day becoming soaTeer and dearer
The great booksellers in London Will even tell you
sorTowfuIly there are no more books. Angling
rs special subject with many collectors. and sep
Erate title in many sale-catalo9ues, under winch
authors of every degree who have written on 1t are
heaped together. Old Waltons book has long been
scarce In his lifetime, Rye editions of the Angler"
were publishcd and all now sought tor Any
one of them is hard to by If you can get all
five i'm good condition, you may think yourself
lucky. The frst published in 1858, lGmo, is curl
ous because it is the frst il is by no means-Spite
of It's titlc--conpiete. Two years later appeared
second edition much enlarged larger than tho
first by 100 pages, and the dialogue now carried
on by three personagcs instead of two ihe
third followed in 1GG1, with slight alterations;
title page. though bearing date 1864 very likely
reissue OF the same with title page the date
ONLY altered. | have not examined il, and can't
sav but publishers were capable Of doing queer
things in those days, as well AS now. In 1868, tho
fourth edition appeared, reprint OF the third,
though protesting to be "much corrected and en-
larged" The eTrata corrected, but 1t IL SO
wholly reprint that in the address to the reader
the words third impression" are retained tinaily,
~ lot IA. al
toms life and the first TO which Coon's treatise on
fy-fshng was added. The story is told of this lat
ter that il was written in little than ten days.
while the press was waiting. The text of this fifth
is that which subsequent editors have, for the most
part followed Bat Sir Harris Nicolas, though he
follows it, sets it down rs inferior TO the second 1t
betrays he says, the gaTrjlity of an octoTenarlar
aud the cooTilg of religious feeling, of which there
Is Just enough TO give charm in former editions, is
d. heightened in this as to become obtruSive. do
net know whether The second edition has ever been
reprinted 1t would be worth while to do 1t; or
perhaps the fourth would lie best Of all.
There viii he few to dispute that Wa!ton's Angler
deserves all tie attention given it, and this fresh
honor nov bestowed Oh it. The gentle-natdred ell
tlusiast closes il with bencdction on "all ttat
hate contentious and love QuietneSse, and vertGe,
and aErling7 For them he meant it, and 10 many
more. who only for angling because he wrote
shout IT, has he book been. for two centuries,
friend Yet, famous and fayorije il Is, We find
Charles Lamb in 1896 commenting it to Cole1dge
as something that might be new to HIM.
Among AL voUr quaint readings. did you ever HIGHT
upon W"lton's Conpete hngcri iaskcH l@a to Gu e
tOH before IL scates IEe very srrit c' lnno cch
pGrty, and ,iallieity ot l'T.ti there EHy ch"'ct
cd vsise> iLtefs eIsc in il il would Chs l7e every
discoidant angry passion fl"y A"Ae ouEfeH "o4|io"
WILL il.
The number Of editions Is very great, OF every de
gree Of merit. He must be a yoracous collector |
who should want them al. Determination il better
than mere accumulation, and Walton's most cnthu
sissiic admircr may be content II he possesses The
frst FIVE Of which have given list above Mayor
frs edition, 1923, large paper, and the celebrated
edition in vols. imp. Svo, published By VIM. Pick
ering edited Icy Nicolas illustrated by Sto.hard and
lnskipp. and printed by Whttiugham Co}ics with
Inda lnccfs before letters TO be Eselc.rod This
is one Of the finest specimens OF English hook
uakinc f that period. The amateur VIII beware Of
the reissue under the same date. and still more of
tiat yalblslcd in 1860 genGine copy in fine con-
diton without stains-for this, like many books of
tlst time occurs more often foxed then nO'-m0y
30 worth, with India proofs, SO 10 $50, and a.
much more in Newly ork as the importer thinks be
get.
This OF Stocks is not the first reprint Of the frs'
edition. Baes.er published one IN 1910, fac-simile
also il is sold. have not seen it. The copy from
which stock has printed is Mr Hofogds end cost
tie cu;s have been reproduced by Photographic
process fhc publisher has not he ass1fcs us, neg
lected any available mecl anica means 10 secure ar
absolute fac-simile. The paper which il printed
IS Of the same shade as the Old. lie adds that tie
binding. even to the curious red ard blue srrnklme
on the rGecs is in all respects counterpart OF that
OF tie ccpy from which this reprint is made. can
only .ay that the copy before me il in blue and
white boards, uncut and of course 10 red and bl.c
Tattl nnn
holds better in other particulars
Tie binding however, i no part Ct the boo.
proper and of intcrCs; unless ii Ge OF The time Of
the book as 70 which MT Stock gives US no in
formation. Ii may well enough b.. II was The eyii
fashion Of early Publisher. TO issue whole edition
badly bound up ia sheep, with margins meTcii"s,J
shorn OIL as il is the evil fashion o. late American
publishers do with cloth boaris in place OF sheep.
That is Why All uncut copy Of seventeenth Or
eighteenth century book infrequently,
even Of those books that most sought after;
Bask, rycs, for instance. Occur they do however,
a. tti.ncs al prices which, compared With the prices
of ordinary copies, may well astoni5h the younc
collector. Portions OF s0Ire Of tie editions printed
by Baslcryillc had TIE curious ftte to be exported
s. france in sheets, and there 70 bo boarded up Gi-
cot. They may s, be found occasionally III hi,
state, the 6vo. Milton OF l75S-G0, for exam
Pc, of which Immaculate copy nO'
long since picked up on an open bJoEsidil
by "a prOwiing collector, for next 10 nOtirY. The
oct of seven ouarto classics, single volumes Of
them, have been found uncut and not long since /
in Paris b0Okshop copy Of the genuine Virgil,
of 1757 the frs, printed by Baskerville, bound lv
Derone in red morocco; rough leaves still rcrlaiu-
ing, This was doubly interesting because Dcromo,