A Victorian book on fly fishing became what is believed to be the most expensive angling book ever sold at auction when it went under the hammer at Bonhams earlier this week as a lot in sale of the Angling Library of Alan Jarvis.
‘Catechism of Fly Making, Angling and Dyeing, Comprising Most Essential Information’ was written by William Blacker and published in 1842. The volume realised £187,250 and is an expanded edition of 130 pages dating from 1843 and included over 75 flies and fly-tying specimens mounted with silver seals on four sheets of thick card.
William Blacker was a London dealer in fishing tackle from his shop in Soho and a famous angler in his own right. His methods were seen as revolutionary at the time and the book has long been regarded as a key work in the history of fly fishing.
Elsewhere in the sale a first edition of Thomas Barker’s ‘The Art of Angling’ (1651) made £61,250 and Markus-Eliezer Bloch’s beautifully illustrated ‘Natural History of Fish’ sold for £51,650.
Will any of the modern ‘classics’ realise such high prices in the future? If so which ones? Let us have your thoughts and comments!
