The Bibliography of Izaak Walton's Compleat Angler by SATCHELL, Thomas (d. 1886)

London: Peyton &Co., 1882. 8vo., (8 ½ x 6 ¾ inches). Original brown paper boards as issued (spine worn away but binding holding, boards a bit rubbed). Provenance: Number 23 of a limited number of copies printed for presentation only. With manuscript presentation inscription: "Wm. Senior Esquire with Tho. Satchell's best respects. Hampstead: April 15th, 1882" to verso of title page. Noted in pencil on free endpaper "N/B Bot [sic] at Senior's sale." First edition. NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY. A bibliography of Izaak Walton (1593-1683)'s "Compleat Angler," produced in a very small edition. The Compleat Angler was first published in 1653, but Walton continued to edit and add to it for 25 years. It celebrates the art and spirit of fishing in prose and verse, with editions published in 1655, 1661, 1668, and 1676. Satchell here records 87 "dated, redated and undated editions and reprints, with dissimilar imprints" (p. 23). The author has added a manuscript note here, "of which fifteen, issued before the year 1864, (the date of the 'Chronicle') have escaped previous notice." This copy was presented by the author to William Senior (1837-1920), also known by his pen name "Red Spinner. He was an Anglo-Australian journalist, angler, co-founder of Brisbane's famed Johnsonian Club, and editor and writer of short stories. In 1876 Senior became the first officially appointed Principal Short Hand writer for the Parliament of Queensland and served as special correspondent and reporter for several publications, including the London Daily News, the Manchester Examiner, and the Brisbane Courier. Senior also wrote a number of short stories for the Queenslander during his time in office. He returned to England in April 1881, becoming editor-in-chief of the sports journal "The Field," where he had previous served as the angling editor. He wrote and edited this journal for over twenty-five years, still frequently using his old nom de plume "Red Spinner.".