THE FISHERMAN'S LIBRARY. By Arthur Ransome.

(1955) 1995 2nd edition. 8vo (160 x 240mm). Ppxi,32. Fully bound in red bonded leather, gilt FFCL motif to upper board, spine titled in gilt, silk marker ribbon, marbled end-papers, top edge gilt. Red cloth-bound slipcase. Edition limited to only 750 copies.

First published in 1955 as a National Book League Reader's Guide, this is a most useful reference. An eleven-page Introduction by Ransome precedes a catalogue of angling books. The entries carry lively and interesting notes; a great improvement on the earlier Reader's Guide edited by John Moore. This Flyfisher's Classic Library edition has a new Preface by Tom Fort. "...Ransome's selection represents as sound a basis for a fishing library now as it did forty years ago..." (Tom Fort 1994.) "The Fisherman's Library was commissioned by the National Book League as one of a series of short historical information books by well-known writers. Here Arthur Ransome lists and describes some of his favourite volumes. From his early days, he had been a keen collector with a particular fondness for unusual early books and diaries. By the time this little book appeared in 1955 Ransome had a substantial library and reading about fishing became the solace of his old age. What better introduction to the literature of angling could there be than this? Our text adds Ransome's original note under Omissions which he may have prepared in case of a reprint."