A Quaint Treatise on Flies and Flymaking by WH Aldam

A Quaint Treatise on Flies and Flymaking by WH AldamWhen I initially saw this first edition, second issue copy of WH Aldam's treatise it was love at first sight: quite a remarkable book with gorgeous gilt work and absolutely stunning chromolithographs! This book was once part of Judith Bowman's collection and it is said that only 220 copies exist, with this one being especially nice and bright. Rich green cloth cover with elaborate gold fish, edges solid with very slight wear to corners. The spine is

Very powerful medium action

An excellent opportunity to pick up some truly unique reels from one of America's very best reelsmiths

as it was listed in "A book on Angling" by Francis Francis

and a 10" top grip in the standard Payne cigar style

The needle is turned slightly over the needle eye size and then glued into the bamboo which has been scalloped at the top near the opening

Pocket cap is gold anodized and stamped "Hardy's Reg'd universal reel holder"

Brown wraps with black edges

My estimation is that this rod dates to the mid-to-late 1930's

Varnished caramel colored cane

It's 17/64 ferrule is an original super Z with the super Z die stamp and is oxidized black along with the males

The negatives are as follows: as with many Paynes of this vintage the varnish has bag imprints in areas and there are no ferrule plugs and no plug for the bottom of the reelseat when the fighting butt is not in use

A nice "Red Star" featherwing classic salmon fly from Maxwell McPherson