Bibliography of fishing and angling materials at the Folger

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The Folger holds a number of early texts relating to fishing, from early "how-to" or "gentlemen sportsmen's" manuals to devotional tracts expanding on the Biblical "fishers of men" passages. Many are printed with or bound after printing with other texts that concern hunting or agricultural pursuits.

The most famous of these, Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler, is represented in the Folger collection in its fourth edition of 1668. It is ultimately indebted to a short Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle, attributed to Dame Juliana Berners, which was printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1496 and added to the Boke of Saint Albans first printed a decade earlier.

The list below is offered in chronological order.


Oppian, fl. 2nd cent. Oppiani poetae Alieuticon, sive, De piscibus libri quinq[ue] / è graeco traducti ad Antonium Imperatorem ; post Oppianum sequuntur Disticha ... authore Laurentio Lippio Collensi, interprete librorum quinq[ue] Oppiani ; C. Plinii Secundi Naturalis historiæ libri duo in quorum priori quidem tractat de naturis piscium ... ; Pauli item Iovii De piscibus liber unus qui est uelut commentarius in priorem Plinij librum ... Argentorati [Strassburg]: Excudebat Iacobus Cammerlander Moguntinus [Jacob Cammerlander], anno M.D.XXXIIII. mense Februario. [February 1534]. Folger call number: 267689

The Folger also holds a Greek version of Halieutica ["Of Fishing"] and a Latin translation of this text, both by by Turnèbe in 1555, and parallel Greek and Latin texts from Leiden in 1597.


Heresbach, Conrad, 1496-1576. Rei rusticae libri quatuor = [Four Books of Husbandry]. Rei rusticae libri quatuor, vniuersam rusticam disciplinam complectentes : vnâ cum appendice oraculorum rusticorum coronidis vice adiecta ; item, De venatione, aucupio atque piscatione compendium, in vsum heroum patrumq[ue] familiâs ruri agentium concinnatum / auctore DD. Conrado Heresbachio Iurisconsulto ... Coloniae [Cologne]: Apud Ioannem Birckmannum [Johann Birckmann], 1570. Folger call number: S515 .H5 1570 Cage


Medici, Sebastiano, d. 1595. Tractus de venatione, piscatione, et aucupio [Tracts on Hunting, Fishing, and Fowling]. Coloniae Agrippinae [Cologne]: Apud Ioannem Gymnicum, sub Monocerote, anno MDLXXXVIII [1588]. Folger call number: 190- 494q


Mascall, Leonard, d. 1589. A booke of fishing with hooke & line, and of all other instruments thereunto belonging. Another of sundrie engines and trappes to take polcats, buzards, rattes, mice and all other kindes of vermine & beasts whatsoeuer, most profitable for all warriners, and such as delight in this kinde of sport and pastime. Made by L.M. London: Printed by Iohn Wolfe, and are to be solde by Edwarde White dwelling at the little North doore of Paules at the signe of the Gunne, [1590]. Folger call number: STC 17572


Capaccio, Giulio Cesare, 1552-1634. Mergellina: egloghe piscatorie. In Venetia [Venice]: Appresso gli heredi di Melchior Sessa, MDXCVIII [1598], Folger call number: 179- 861q


Gardiner, Samuel, b. 1563 or 4. A booke of angling, or fishing. Wherein is shewed, by conference with scriptures, the agreement betweene the fishermen, fishes, fishing of both natures temporall, and spirituall. London : Printed by Thomas Purfoot, 1606. Folger call number: STC 11572


T. S. [Thomas Snodham], fl. 1614. A ievvell for gentrie. Being an exact dictionary, or true method, to make any man vnderstand all the art, secrets, and worthy knowledges belonging to hawking, hunting, fouling and fishing. Together with all the true measures for winding of the horne. Now newly published, and beautified with all the rarest experiments that are knowne or practised at this day. Printed at London : [By Thomas Snodham] for Iohn Helme, and are to be sold at his shop in St. Dunstanes Church-yard in Fleetstreet, 1614. Folger call number: STC 21520


Barker, Thomas, fl. 1651. The art of angling. Wherein are discovered many rare secrets, very necessary to be knowne by all that delight in that recreation. London: [s.n.], printed in the yeare 1653. Folger call number: B783

The Folger also holds an edition of Barker's The country-mans recreation (1654).


Walton, Izaak, 1593-1683. The compleat angler or the contemplative man's recreation. Being a discourse of rivers, fish-ponds, fish, & fishing. To which is added, the laws of angling: with a new table of the particulars in this book. The fourth edition, much corrected and enlarged. London : printed for R. Marriot, and are to be sold by Charles Harper at his shop, the next door to the Crown near Sergeants-Inn in Chancery-lane, 1668. Folger call number: W665


Cox, Nicholas, fl. 1673-1721. The gentleman's recreation, in four parts; (viz.) hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing. Collected from ancient and modern authors forrein and domestick, and rectified by the experience of the most skilfull artists of these times. Illustrated with sculptures. London : printed by E. Flesher, for Maurice Atkins at the Half-moon in St. Paul's Church-yard, and Nicolas Cox over against Furnivals-Inn-Gate in Holborne, 1674. Folger call number: C6702

The Folger also holds an edition from 1697, which the title-page says is "The fourth edition, to which is now added, a perfect abstract of all the forest-laws, and of every particular Act of Parliament since Magna Charta to this time, as do any way relate to the several kinds of game above mention’d."


Cotton, Charles, 1630-1687. The compleat angler. Being instructions how to angle for a trout or grayling in a clear stream. Part. II. London : printed for Richard Marriott, and Henry Brome in St. Paul's Church-yard, MDCLXXVI. [1676]. Folger call number: 162- 436q


Venables, Robert, 1612?-1687. The experienc'd angler: or, Angling improv'd. Being a general discourse of angling. Imparting the aptest ways and choicest experiments for the taking of most sorts of fish in pond or river. London : printed by B[enjamin]. W[hite]. for B. Tooke, at the Ship in St. Pauls Church-yard, and Tho. Sawbridge at the three Flower de Luces in little Britain, MDCLXXXIII. [1683]. Folger call number: 142- 212q


Clemente, Africo. Della agricoltura / di M. Africo Clemente padouano; accommodata all'vso de'nostri tempi, & al seruitio d'ogni paese ; con molte aggiunte di ricordi vtili, & curiosi in quest'vltima impressione ; libri sei ; nelli quali si contiene il vero, & vtilissimo modo di coltiuare le cose di villa ; con l'aggiunta del settimo libro, intorno alle pescaggioni ... In Treuigi : Per Giouanni Molino, 1692. Folger call number: 182- 356q


Chetham, James, 1640-1692. The anglers vade mecum: or, a compendious, yet full, discourse of angling: discovering the aptest methods and ways, exactest rules, properest baits, and choicest experiments for the catching all manner of fresh water fish. Together with a brief discourse of fish-ponds, and not only the easiest, but most palatable ways of dressing all sorts of fish, whether belonging to rivers, or ponds; and the laws concerning augling [sic], and the preservation of such fish. The third edition, very much enlarged. London : printed for William Battersby, and are to be sold at his shop at Thavies Inn Gate, near St. Andrews Church in Holbourn; and William Brown in Black Horse Alley, 1700. Folger call number: 154- 211q


Liger, Louis, 1658-1717. Le menage des champs, et le jardinier françois accommodez au gout du temps : dans lesquelles on peut apprendre facilement à aprêter tout ce qui est necessaire pour l'usage de la vie à la campagne, & même à la ville, & la maniere de cultiver parfaitement les jardins fruitiers, potagers, & fleuristes : avec un traité de la chasse & de la pêche ... A Paris au Palais : Chez Damien Beugnié ..., MDCCXI [1711]. Folger call number: 251- 232q


The Whole art of fishing: being a collection and improvement of all that has been written upon this subject: with many new experiments: shewing the different ways of angling, and the best methods of taking fresh-water fish: to which is added, The laws of angling. London : Printed for E. Curll ..., 1714. Folger call number: 156- 794q


Whitney, John, fl. 1700. The genteel recreation, or, The pleasure of angling: a poem; with a dialogue between Piscator and Corydon. [London], [Reprinted for J.H. Burn], [1820]. Folger call number: PR3765.W52 G3 1820 Cage