The 1810 edition published by Samuel Bagster is the earliest attempt at an exact reprint of the 1653 edition. This copy is extra illustrated, and it contains all 17 engravings of fish by Philip Audinet that appear in Bagster’s first edition of 1808, which are hand-colored in this copy.
Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683). The Compleat Angler or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation. London: Printed for S. Bagster, in the Strand. MDCCCX. University Library System - Archives & Special Collections |
This is the extra-illustrated Bagster edition from the fifth edition of 1676, edited with notes by Sir Henry Ellis, who later became the head librarian at the British Museum. There are fifty illustrations, including engravings of fish, landscapes, music, and portraits. In addition, two of the engravings show women fishing together with men. One of the engravings is by James Hopwood, and depicts a couple fishing from a boat with details of artificial flies at the top of the image.
Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683). The Complete Angler, or Contemplative Man’s Recreation. London: Printed for Samuel Bagster, in the Strand, By R. Watts, at Broxbourne, on the River Lea, Herts. MDCCCXV. University Library System - Archives & Special Collections |
Though Walton's work was made popular again in the 18th century by the various editions put out by Brown and Hawkins, the 19th century saw a real increase in new editions of The Compleat Angler. Revitalized interest in the art of angling led to numerous editors and publishers creating their own version of the Angler. Some were true to the original, while others displayed current interests and trends. The 1885 version, for instance, contains only the songs from the Angler, presented along with new illustrations drawn by the artist and editor, Joseph Crawhall.
This edition of The Compleat Angler is a reissue of the seventh Hawkins edition, and is illustrated with many engravings of fish and landscapes, some of which may have been engraved after drawings by the English artist Samuel Wale.
Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683). The Complete Angler, or Contemplative Man’s Recreation. London: Printed for James Smith, 1822. University Library System - Archives & Special Collections |
The Complete Angler, edited by Harris Nicolas and published by William Pickering in 1836, is a reprint of the 1676 edition. The two-volume set was printed in twelve parts to be bound by the subscriber, with each title page printed in red and black with the Pickering Anchor and Dolphin device. William Pickering enlisted 27 of the most prominent artists, painters, and engravers of the period to illustrate this edition, which is considered one of the finest ever published.
Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683). The Complete Angler: or, The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. London: William Pickering, 1836. University Library System - Archives & Special Collections |
Title Page
The Complete Angler, Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton, 1853
The 1853 edition of The Complete Angler is the first edition edited by ‘Ephemera’ the pseudonym of Edward Fitzgibbon. The half-title page is illustrated with a frame of vines with artificial flies and a vignette of fish and fishing tackle below the title.
Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683). The Complete Angler. London: Ingram, Cooke & co., 1853. University Library System - Archives & Special Collections |
Joseph Crawhall designed and illustrated Izaak Walton: His Wallet Booke, with 174 hand-colored woodcuts. It is an abridged edition of 36 songs and posies from the fifth edition of The Compleat Anger of 1676.
Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683). Izaak Walton: His Wallet Booke. London: Field & Tuer, The Leadenhall Press. University Library System - Archives & Special Collections |