Borg Antiquarian

THE ANGLICAN FRIAR; And / The Fish Which He Took / By Hook and by Crook / A Comic Legend / By A. Novice, A.F. & F. / Dedicated to All Lovers of Angling / [Arum Legenditis]

[Fishing & Angling / Humor] Novice, A. [Anon.]

London: J. and D. A. Darling, 1851. First Edition. Decorated & gilt-stamped cloth. Small 8vo (7 1/2" x 4 1/2"), original publisher's green decorative gilt-and-blind-stamped cloth with cover displaying the title & subtitle with a bright gilt-title and -engraving of a friar catching a cat [!] not a catfish "...by hook and by crook," illustrated with frontispiece repeating humorous gilded cover art of friar fishing, opposite extra-illustrated title page with eight engraved oval vignettes bordering that has been printed on heavy stock, plus an undecorated title page, further illustrated with seven [7] full-page engraved plates [unsigned with style resembling Doyle rather than Cruikshank], 166 pages. Very Good / None [Clear archival polyester sleeve added]. Item #6598

Engaging brief presentation on front free endpaper "To a learned angler" by another who to his friend quotes [supposedly] "'These are not Anglers but Angels' Pope Gregory."

VERY SCARCE Illustrated and amusing poetic send-up of fishers [of fish, men, & accidentally cats]. The gilt impress on the front cover of the fishing friar is wonderfully bright; likewise the frontispiece and facing decorative engraved title page on heavier stock. Light and uniform age-toning to pages and plates (slightly more apparent around their margins) but without (or very little) foxing or noticeably affecting the full-page still crisp engravings. Wear to spine cloth with upper cap gone and fraying to the foot of the spine. Covers are quite clean and bright with slight fading and some wear showing at edges and corners.

References: Westwood & Satchell, The Chronicle of the "Compleat Angler"...,(1883): with anonymous author not identified, page 15. Heckscher Sale Catalogue(s), 83.

Price: $145.00