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Aldam, W. H. & [Whitehead, Robert].
A Quaint Treatise on "Flees, and the Art a Artyfichall Flee Making" by An Old Man well known on the Derbyshire Streams as a First-Class Fly-Fisher a Century Ago.
Publisher: John B. Day, London;
Date of Publication: 1875
Stock Code: 11754
First edition, first issue with 1875 to title-page and 1876 to tail of spine. Quarto, pp. xiii, [3], 91, [1] printed with double border in red throughout, and with black-and-red title page. 2 chromolithograph plates, depicting Lugwy in North Wales and the Offerton Stepping Stones near Hathersage in Derbyshire respectively, from watercolours by James Poole, mounted on stiff card; 6 substantial thick card leaves with sunken recesses for 22 numbered examples of artificial flies and the various materials used to make them, as called for, arranged with twin oval sunken mounts verso and recto and samples attached with coloured paper seals. Publishers’ dark green pictorial cloth with bevelled boards, extensive appropriately piscatorial decoration to spine and upper board in black and gilt, borders in blind to lower board. All edges gilt. The lavishly produced rare and seldom seen 1875 first issue, one of approximately 200 copies, dated 1875 to title-page but with 1876 to spine as no copies were actually sold until spring 1876. The original manuscript which Aldam edited was sold in the late twentieth century and the author named as Robert Whitehead, but little is known about him other than his name. A handsome example of the work, complete with all the intricate component parts. The binding is lightly scuffed with creasing at spine tips and minor wear to corners, but bright. Minor scattered foxing, heavier to prelims and endpapers; no annotation or inscriptions. The fragile flies are in very good order. £2500.00