WALTON, Izaak, Charles COTTON, and Harris NICOLAS, editor. The Compleat Angler. London: William Pickering, 1836.
2 volumes, 4to (270 x 180 mm). Half-titles, titles printed in red and black, 61 steel engravings IN TWO STATES, many printed on india paper. (Some scant spotting.) Contemporary green morocco, wide borders gilt, fish tool cornerpieces gilt, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettered in two, fish tool gilt in the rest, edges gilt, STAMP-SIGNED BY HERING (some light wear, spines slightly darkened, hinges starting). First Nicolas edition. "One of the best, possibly the very best of...[the 146 editions of The Compleat Angler published between 1836 and 1901] was the superb edition edited by Sir Harris Nicolas for Pickering with engravings after Stothard, Inskipp and others" (Percy Muir, Victorian Illustrated Books, 1971, p.21). A FINE COPY, EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED BY THE ADDITION OF A SECOND SUITE OF PLATES, nearly all printed on india paper and mounted on thick sheets. Keynes p.94.
Provenance: William George Prescott (1800-1865) British banker (bookplate); Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe (1865-1922) British newspaper and publishing magnate (bookplate).
