WALTON, IZAAK. 1593-1683. The Compleat Angler or the Contemplative man's Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing... London: Printed by T. Maxey for Rich. Marriot, 1653. 8vo (138 x 85 mm). Engraved piscatorial cartouche on the title-page and 6 small copperplate illustrations in the text. Title-leaf, the leaf following and leaf M4 are slightly shorter than the rest, some margins and headlines shaved close, some stains. Early 20th century green calf tooled in blind and gilt, housed in a green morocco solander case. Provenance: John Evelyn (note on flyleaf and A7r); Dame Mary Evelyn (see previous); William Upcott (signed inscription recording purchase from Evelyn sale on A7r); Joseph Crawhall (signed inscription on flyleaf); Dean Sage (bookplate and sale Parke Bernet New York 10 April 1942 lot 451); Robert Norton Ganz (bookplate). FIRST EDITION, corrected state with 'contentment' on p.245. The 1653 first edition of Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler is a foundational work in the English pastoral tradition. Published during the political instability of the Interregnum, it combined practical fishing instruction with a meditative philosophy on nature and companionship. Its influence on both angling literature and the development of the nature essay has made it a central text for collectors since the 18th century, with the 1653 edition serving as the definitive record of Walton's original intent.The interest of this copy is significantly enhanced by a well-documented provenance that links several major figures in the history of book collecting. The early association with Dame Mary Evelyn places the volume in the library of the Evelyn family at Wotton. This is corroborated by a manuscript note from William Upcott, the pioneering antiquarian and librarian, stating he acquired the book from her in 1816. Such inscriptions are characteristic of Upcott, who, while cataloging the Evelyn family papers, frequently noted the specific origins of volumes he added to his own collection. The subsequent marks of Joseph Crawhall and Dean Sage further establish the book's place within the most significant angling libraries of the 19th and early 20th centuries. This chain of ownership-concluding with the Boston collector Robert Norton Ganz-provides a clear historical record, situating the book within a specific lineage of scholarly and sporting appreciation. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing