Holder, Charles Frederick (1851–1915)

The Log of the Sea Angler. Sport and Adventures in Many Seas with Spear and Rod [Sporting Literature] [1906] [Florida Keys]

New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906. First Edition, First Printing.
A foundational text in American sporting literature by Charles Frederick Holder, the naturalist and sportsman credited with founding the Tuna Club of Avalon and pioneering big-game angling. 

This volume serves as a comprehensive record of Holder’s global expeditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His narratives are significant not only for their technical insights into early rod and spear techniques but also for their proto-conservationist observations of marine life. 

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
+++ Notable ownership mark: Inscription of Otis H. Dana, grandson of Richard Henry Dana (Two Years Before the Mast).
+++ The Author: Holder was a seminal figure in the transition of fishing from a survival task to a regulated high-stakes sport.
+++ Content: Detailed accounts of angling in the Florida Keys, California’s Channel Islands, and international waters.
+++ Citations: Walker, 116; Bruns, 230.
+++ Provenance: Inscribed by Otis H. Dana, descendant of the maritime author Richard Henry Dana.
+++ Documentation: Includes a detailed index of species and locations.
+++ Specs. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo (7.75 inches tall). 385 pages followed by two pages of advertisements. Green cloth with stamped gilt titles and a decorative front board in a lighter green.

CONDITION: Very Good. The bindings are tight and square. The text is clean with light, even toning consistent with age. The green cloth remains attractive with bright gilt; there is moderate shelf handling wear, including mild rubbing to the spine tips and corners. Overall, a solid, well-preserved copy.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY: THE PIONEER OF THE BIG GAME SPORT FISHING ---
Charles Frederick Holder was instrumental in elevating the status of the sea angler. Before Holder, the capture of large pelagic fish was largely the domain of commercial harpooners.
Through his writings and the establishment of the Tuna Club, he introduced the ethics of 'light tackle' and the 'fair play' methodology to big-game fishing. The Log of a Sea Angler captures the era when the Florida Keys and the Santa Catalina Islands were first being mapped as the world's premier sporting destinations.

Subjects: Big Game Fishing History, Spearfishing, Florida Keys Angling, Santa Catalina Island, Marine Natural History, Maritime Adventure, Richard Henry Dana Family, Sporting Literature, Travel & Exploration, First Edition.

Item #16032

Price: $95.00