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Bonhams presents the Angling Library of John Simpson, described by Classic Angling as “the sale of the decade”, in a two-part sale, taking place on 15 February and 2 June 2005 at the New Bond Street galleries. This collection is believed by many to be the most important of its kind for at least 30 years, carefully compiled by John Simpson whose discerning eye for quality, condition and comprehensiveness is reflected throughout.

For anglers who aspire to have a library of note on the subject, this sale provides a rare opportunity to collect books ranging from the 17th century to the 20th century Honey Dun Press, of which John Simpson was a director. Standard works of angling literature are found in numerous variant editions and issues, presentation copies and authors’ own copies, many beautifully presented in elegant cases by Aquarius.

Among the highlights of this sale are:

A copy of W.H. Aldam’s Quaint Treatise on “Flees” with a signed photograph of the author, inscribed by the editors to Mary Ogden Smith who tied the majority of the 25 specimen flies mounted in the book (estimate: £1,500 – 2,000).

The unique copy of a facsimile of Thomas Barker’s Delight, or, the Art of Angling printed on vellum in 1820, with an auction history and provenance stretching back to Alfred Denison, the nineteenth-century fishing book collector(estimate: £1,500 – 2,000).

Several copies of Blacker’s Art of Angling, some signed by the author and with flies mounted with attractive paper seals – a method that anticipated the sumptuous volumes produced by Aldam some thirty years later (estimates around £1,500 – 2,000).

A copy of The Angler’s Vade Mecum by James Chetham with an ink sketch and manuscript poem dating from 1707, by William Ellay of Thirsk, including the couplet “Now happy fisherman now twitch ye line / How thy rod bends: behold ye prize is thine!” (Estimate: £1,500-2,000).

Joseph Crawhall’s autograph manuscript of The Compleatest Angling Booke That Ever Was Writ interleaved with the printed text, and with several letters relating to the author; this copy is inscribed to Crawhall’s wife Margaret on her birthday, in 1859 (estimate: £4,000 – 6,000).

One of 100 de luxe copies of Frederic M. Halford’s autobiography, signed by the author; the collection includes archives relating to the publishing of Halford’s works, and copies inscribed by him to noted figures in this history of angling such as G.E.M. Skues, T. Hawksley, John Henderson and others. Estimate: £1,500 – 2,000

George M.L. La Branche’s The Dry Fly and Fast Water, inscribed by the author to Arthur Gilbey, a Committee Member of the Fly Fishers' Club (estimate: £100 – 150).

A copy of Edward Ringwood Hewitt’s Telling on the Trout inscribed to G.E.M. Skues, pleading, “next time you must fish with me and show me why I do not get more fish in hard places.” (estimate: £100 – 150).

Alongside proof copies and books distinguished by their fine provenances are more ephemeral items such as fishing broadsides, trade cards, catalogues and manuscript fly books.

“ The `Black Tulip’ of Angling literature – ‘The Fly Fisher’s Legacy’ – by George Scotcher, published in 1810.This copy of the first edition, once in the library of Eric Taverner, will be offered complete with hand coloured frontispiece, maroon cloth and preserved in a calf-backed solander box in the February sale.

The Fly Fisher's Legacy is one of the rarest books in angling literature; so rare that neither the Library of the British Museum, nor the National Libraries of Scotland or Wales have one. It is an important book for several reasons, not the least being that it was the first angling book to contain a coloured plate illustrating some of the insects imitated by anglers. It was the first angling book devoted entirely fly-fishing and certainly one of the first to mention the use of stiffer rods and tapered lines...", wrote Jack Heddon in `Scotcher Notes’ in 1975.

Another stunning book being offered is a de luxe copy of Leonard West’s ‘The Natural Trout Fly and its Imitation’, published in 1912. This was limited to about 30 sets each containing examples of 108 real trout flies in 9 sunken mounts. However, this particular copy also has an additional four sunk mounts showing hackles, feathers and hooks. As far as is known there may have been no more than three copies like this: West’s own; one given to his friend J. Unsworth; a third may have been presented to King George V. Covered in black morocco gilt and preserved in a morocco-backed solander box, this early ‘interactive’ also contains a portrait of the author signed ‘Yours truly, Leonard West’

A fine copy of the first, and best, British book on angling in Norway written in the 1800s is a scarce work – but collectors will be happy to know one is being offered alongside these notable angling books. Issued at the instigation of J.Jones, a tackle dealer of Jermyn Street who also wrote the introduction, it includes very fine hand-coloured plates of flies by J. and H. Adlard.

For more details visit the Bonhams web site.

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