Other South Cerney highlights included, at £6000, a rare complete copy of Thomas Barker’s The Country-man’s Recreation, or the Art of Planting, Grassing, and Gardening… [and] Angling of 1654.
The last mentioned section is the second edition of an important and early treatise that in its original form of 1651 is a legendary rarity.
Barker, who made a living as an angling tutor or instructor, offered practical advice on fish species, tackle and bait, and even added some recipes. Among the latter is one for pike with stewed oysters that sounds quite a culinary challenge.
A complete run of the New Naturalist books, comprising Nos 1-143 from the years 1945-2021 and said to be in generally excellent condition, sold at £4200.
