The Complete Angler

London: John Major, 1824. Leather. Very Good. 6.5" by 4.5". Not Stated. A smart copy of the second Major edition of Walton's 'Complete Angler', from the library of the 3rd Earl of Spencer and his deceased wife. The second Major edition.Bookplate of Esther Acklom to the front paste down. Though Acklom died before the publication of this edition, her husband was devoted to her and mourned her until his death almost three decades later, wearing mourning clothes, and a locket containing Acklom's hair until he died. Esther Acklom was an heiress and socialite, known for her social flirtations preceding her marriage to John, the future Earl Spencer, in 1814. Initially the pair were unwilling to marry, but the marriage proved to be a happy one. Esther married John after turning down many other marriage proposals, and breaking off two engagements. Acklom sadly died in 1818 after giving birth to a stillborn son. Two parts in one, the first part written by Izaak Walton, the second by Charles Cotton.Illustrated with a frontispiece, and twelve plates.Collated, complete.'The Compleat Angler' is a well known seventeenth century work celebrating the art and spirit of fishing, in both prose and verse.The work was admired by the likes of Charles Lamb, who admired it for it's innocence and simplicity of the heart. In fact it is so popular that it is the second most reprinted book in English after the King James Bible.Walton's writing is vivid and expands further than being just a fishing manual, with passages of rich description, such as describing the contents in the bag of an angler.Izaak Walton is now best known for this work, though he professed to not be an expert with a fishing fly. He also wrote a collection of short biographies called 'Walton's Lives'.With contributions by Charles Cotton, a poet, who is best known for these contributions, and for his translations of the works of Michel de Montaigne.Faded ink inscription to the title page, 'Alex Davis ... from his Father, 1839'. In a rebacked mottled calf binding. Externally, smart. Minor bumping to the extremities. Bookplate to the front paste down. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean with some scattered spots, including to the plates. Faded ink inscription to the title page. Page 103/104 and the plate facing page 104 are working loose. Very Good