# Is "The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's Recreation" by Izaak Walton a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's Recreation by Izaak Walton (Printed by T. Maxey for Richard Marriot, 1653) is identified by: First edition, London, 1653, small octavo; imprint 'Printed by T. True first (1653) is among the most coveted English-language books.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, London, 1653, small octavo; imprint 'Printed by T. Maxey for Rich
- Marriot' (Maxey of Paul's Wharf)
- Engraved title within a piscatorial cartouche; small copperplate engravings of fish within the text; two engraved pages of Henry Lawes music
- Reported counts of the in-text fish engravings vary across sources (commonly given as around six, occasionally more), so confirm against the specific copy
- Publisher imprint reads Printed by T. Maxey for Richard Marriot
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Izaak Walton |
| Publisher | Printed by T. Maxey for Richard Marriot |
| Year | 1653 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, London, 1653, small octavo; imprint 'Printed by T. Maxey for Rich |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, London, 1653, small octavo; imprint 'Printed by T. Maxey for Rich. Marriot' (Maxey of Paul's Wharf). Engraved title within a piscatorial cartouche; small copperplate engravings of fish within the text; two engraved pages of Henry Lawes music. Reported counts of the in-text fish engravings vary across sources (commonly given as around six, occasionally more), so confirm against the specific copy.

## Is this the true first?
True first (1653) is among the most coveted English-language books. The text was substantially revised and expanded through five lifetime editions, notably the fifth (1676), which added Charles Cotton's second part. All later editions are textually distinct from the 1653.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Centuries of reprints, facsimiles, and illustrated gift editions exist; only the 1653 Marriot imprint is the true first. Any added Cotton 'Part II' marks a 1676-or-later text.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's Recreation* by Izaak Walton a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-compleat-angler-or-the-contemplative-mans-recreation
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.