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Gallant Fox by Woodward Rare Derrydale Press

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Woodward, William - Gallant Fox , A Memoir - 1931, single state, limited to 50 numbered copies of which this is number 27. 128 pages with illustrations in black and white with one plate hand-colored. (Frazier) Perhaps the scarcest of all Derrydales, and certainly one of the finest. We know the location and whereabouts of a small handful of copies. My copy was Frank Lowe's and he stated unequivicably that there were only 27 bound, and only two outside the family. If that was the case in 1958 when he wrote it, a few more have escaped from the family since. I have heard of one copy that was given in the unbound condition by Woodward to a collector in the early 1950's. This book is one of the two or three scarcest and one of the two or three most valuable of all the Derrydales. The two copies of which he speaks of were both Connett's copies and the other copy was donated to the Princeton University library. A letter signed by Frank Lowe states this information and is laid inside the book. To our knowledge, this is the only copy known to exist outside of institutions. A magnificent copy in Fine condition in full leather with 5 raised bands, gilt lettering and rule. Housed in the original one-piece box, which is in Very Good condition with splits at all but one corner.Siegel 51, Frazier W-12-a This lot is part of The Carter Center - John Moores Angling Collection. John Moores is well known as the owner of the San Diego Padres, but he is also a prolific philanthropist, the chairman of the board of trustees of The Carter Center, and an avid fly fisherman. His long interest in fly fishing has been enriched by his relationship with the Carters. This relationship began as a result of their mutual interest in global health issues, but his deep admiration of President Carter began long before and has grown over time. In 1989, John Moores established the River Blindness Foundation to distribute a treatment for that disease in developing countries. The foundation was later absorbed into The Carter Center. Shortly after meeting Carter, their shared passion of fly fishing strengthened the already close bonds formed through their work on river blindness control and treatment programs in Africa and Central and South America. Their trips have taken them to some of the most remote places in the world including Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina, and Kamchatka, Russia. Despite being consistently out-fished ("Jimmy Carter was the first guy in the river and the last guy out - and he consistently caught the most and largest fish."), John considers Jimmy Carter the best fly fishing companion in the world. One day fishing for brown sea trout in Tierra del Fuego, John asked Carter why he was catching more fish than the rest and he replied, "I don't false cast." John, on the other hand, was madly false casting, which had become a bit of a chore with their 10 and 12 weight rods. The presidential advice did not prove to be helpful to John. John's friendship with Jimmy Carter is the most important in his life. It didn't take but a moment to decide whom to gift the proceeds from his treasured angling and book collection. His many memories of fly fishing inspired him to pay further tribute to the man he calls his hero. Tax deductions for purchases may apply as all proceeds from the sale of this important and historic collection are to benefit The Carter Center to wage peace, fight disease and build hope.

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