Letter From Arcadia

Found upon returning from Kempton this morning, correspondence from the novelist, angler and radical gentleman, Dexter Petley, in the form of a 'Letter From Arcadia' http://caughtbytheriver.net/2011/05/letter-from-arcadia-35/.  Dexter and I have been writing to each other about our respective worlds of angling on either side of Hell's Ditch for almost a decade and for half of that time our letters have been published by Caught by the River.  The one you may read via the link above, the first since November, is as sure a sign as any that the winter in the woods of Normandy (Dexter's twentieth in France since he left Dover bound for a week's fishing at the beginning of the decade known as the 90's) was as hard as the one here.   

Bank Holiday Special

For all those of you who are thinking of indulging in a Bank Holiday Monday excursion to the Piers of the East Coast to get salt in your hair and to try for an early mackerel your attention is drawn to the following advertisement.  Found whilst reading a copy of the Club Anglers' Journal and dating to the decades immediately Post-War that were known widely in Arcadia for their chivalry.

Fishing at Teston - Bernard Venables '54

Found whilst sorting out books bought at auction a view of the River Medway at Teston again drawn by Bernard Venables and published in his 1954 1st Edition 'Guide to Angling Waters - South-East England'.  You may recall that I posted an entry on May 17th about an oil painting that Venables made of Teston in 1937: http://andrewsofarcadiascrapbook.blogspot.com/2011/05/spring-sun-at-teston-bernard-venables.html

'On Nature' Upfront

Often in Arcadia but only very occasionally in the life of a dealer/writer there are days when something quite undeniably joyous happens.  Yesterday was such, being the day that the publication date of the new Caught by the River anthology 'On Nature' was announced as being the 23rd June.  I will be drinking a half of ale in celebration on said morning as I count myself very fortunate to have a chapter of my own in the book entitled 'Winter Pike Fishing'.  You will be able to read it when the book comes out and hear me reading from it at various Caught by the River events over the coming months but in the meantime here is a link to Caught by the River that will tell you more about the book and from where you can pre-order it: http://caughtbytheriver.net/2011/05/caught-by-the-river-presents-on-nature/.

Spitalfields

 A quiet day yesterday at Spitalfields in terms of finding Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul but I did have a conversation with a gentleman about a parcel of enamel fishing club badges which I hope will appear at the stall in the next few weeks.  The rest of the day was spent reading pre-war Speedway programmes, getting excited about the prospect of Car Boot Sales in old London stadiums and pondering the strength of the tea in the Dreamland Restaurant in Margate.

Holbrow & Co

Once upon a time in Arcadia and almost certainly on a Thursday, well heeled ladies and gentlemen would have called upon Holbrow & Co. at No. 40 Duke Street in the district of London known as St. James.  There they would have been able to avail themselves of all sorts of 'First-Class' tackle and in particular some of a distinctly Victorian nature. Sadly, if you walk down Duke Street today Holbrow & Co. is but a memory.  To keep that memory alive and currently to see some 'First Class' tackle of a distinctly Victorian nature I suggest that you take the Underground Train in the direction of Liverpool Street and visit me on a Thursday at my stall in Spitalfields Market, where under the guise of selling Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul I spend my day talking about fishing and drinking tea with many a well heeled lady and gentleman.

Made in England

One of a number of Victorian Hook Salesman's Sample Cards found in the Disused Fishing Tackle Factory and for sale in Arcadia at http://andrewsofarcadia.com/home.php?id=3.

The Fever of Angling

Found in another lot of books bought at auction on Saturday, a one hundred and twenty-five year old battered copy of Francis Francis' 'A Book on Angling'.  The work contains Mr. Francis' observations on the 'Fever of Angling' and some well preserved plates from the hand of Mr. Edward Weller showing a number of salmon flies popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, including that of a killer notorious in Arcadia, 'The Butcher'.

W. McAndrew's Lost Map of Scotland

Found on Saturday amongst a lot of books bought at auction, an 1853 Map of Scotland printed to illustrate Stoddart's 'Angler's Companion'.  The map was backed in linen and hand stencilled by its original owner Mr. W. McAndrew.  It was later purchased by a Mr A. P. Millard in the month of April 1931.

Not Long Now

In Arcadia, as the month of May proceeds, thoughts naturally turn to the morning in June that is known as 'The Glorious 16th', the opening day of the new coarse fishing season.

The Field

Once upon a time in Arcadia ladies and gentlemen would settle down on a Saturday morning to read The Field.

The Cringleford Roach

Found at Spitalfields an original ink lifesize impression of a Roach caught at Cringleford in the English County of  Norfolk (http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/Watermills/cringleford.html).  The fish, weighing 1 1/2lbs, was taken by an unknown angler on July 5th in the year 1860.

The Three Magpies

For all those of you who will not be spending your lunchtime drinking in that 'Noted House of Call for Anglers' better known as the "Three Magpies" in West Drayton, you are invited to visit me at my stall today in Spitalfields Antiques Market where from the hour of a half past seven in the morning until approximately three o'clock in the afternoon I shall be selling Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.

Found in Redditch

Found at the Fair in Redditch on Sunday a number of items of Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul, related ephemera and a collection of mid 19th Century copper printing plates still wrapped in paper.  I will have the ones shown here as well others amid several boxes of treasure from the Fair on my stall at Spitalfields tomorrow.

'Spring Sun at Teston' - Bernard Venables '37

Found at The National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair a Bernard Venables oil painting signed by the artist and dated '37.  The work is entitled 'Spring Sun at Teston' and is still in its original frame.  There is also a fragment of the original sales label on the back of the frame.