HANDCRAFTING A GRAPHITE FLY ROD. By Luis Agustin Garcia-Vela.

1978 1st edition. 8vo comb-bound paperback (140 x 216mm). Ppii,57. B/w photographs throughout. White card covers.

A slim but useful guide to building graphite fly rods. Later reprinted by Frank Amato, this is the first edition that was privately published by the author in 1978. It has become quite scarce. Chapters include: Selection of blank; Snake guides, stripping guide(s) and hook keeper; Location of the spline; Mounting the tip top; Mounting the reel seat; Metal seat; Cork locking seat; Using the Thompson rod wrapping tool; Phone book method; Wrapping the top section; Attaching the handle; Shaping the grip; Fitting the winding check; Wrapping the butt section; Burning fuzz from the wraps; Preserving the colour of the wraps; Varnishing the wraps; Materials for rod only; Complete material list; Guide spacing charts.