Part of my Ray Bergman Collection

Ray Bergman?s Book ?Trout? Collection

1) 1938 First edition by Penn Publishing of Philadelphia. No Dust Jacket, Good Condition.

2) 1939 Third Printing by Penn Publishing of Philadelphia. No Dust Jacket, Good Condition.

3) 1942 Fourth Printing by WM. Penn Publishing Corp. New York. No Dust Jacket, Good Condition.

4) 1945 Ninth Printing by Alfred A. Knopf of New York. No Dust Jacket, Fair Condition.

5) 1947 Eleventh Printing by Alfred A. Knopf of New York, No Dust Jacket, Fair to Good Condition.

6) 1949 Twelfth Printing by Alfred A. Knopf of New York (Borzoi), Dust Jacket worn and chipped. Book in Good Condition.

7) 1951 Fourteenth Printing by Alfred A. Knopf of New York (Borzoi), Dust Jacket has shelf wear only. Book in Very Good Condition.

8) 1952 Second edition, REVISED and Enlarged, Reset and Printed from New Plates, Printing by Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi), Dust Jack has two main Chips, one on upper left corner and second on the spine. Book in Good Condition.

9) 1962 Second edition, REVISED and Enlarged, Reset and Printed from New Plates November 1952, Reprinted May 1959, March 1962, Printing by Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi), Dust Jacket has minor Chips and is shelf worn. Book is in Good Condition.

10) 1976 Third Edition Enlarged, Printing by Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi), Dust Jacket in very good condition with slight shelf wear, Book in Very Good Condition.

11) 1938 Original Color advertisement and book cover. In Good Condition.

The Book Trout was originally printed in November of 1938 with an unexplained second printing that I am looking into from November 1938 time frame as well. The book from 1938 has been reprinted thirteen times. This statement is true only up to the 1976 edition. As I receive newer printings I will update the facts as they are presented. A second edition that was REVISED and ENLARGED was reset and printed from new plates November 1952. The book was reprinted eleven times from 1952. The Third edition was enlarged in April of 1976 and the second printing was in October of 1976.
The Data presented here so far has been taken out from the collection of books that I own. As older and newer releases are obtained I will be able to add further updates to the data and hopefully link together the true printing origin from start to finish. No other book in the fly fishing world has had so many issues and updates from the time the book was written by Ray until the last printing in on the year 2000 with a forward by a true gentlemen and fly angler the late Gary LaFontaine. This book when you think about has stood the test of time for 62 years of printing life. For readers it has stood the test of time for 66 years. Anglers still hunger and search for this book. Tyers like Bastian and I still tye and fish these forgotten patterns. I wonder if Ray when he wrote this book knew that he would long be talked about and that his book as of today seems to live on forever.
I currently have purchased and am awaiting the arrivals of the book Trout from 1944, 1969, 1973, 1990 and 2000. I hopefully will be able to piece by fact further printing information together. I could do this a lot easier, but this is a hobby collecting this book and fact-finding has been a ton of fun. Tying the flies and fishing them has been priceless. Until I speak with you again, it has been a pleasure to have met so many knowledgeable people here on this web site. I wanted to share a piece of my fly-fishing and fly tying life behind the scenes.

Andy B

Nice bit of info Andy!!

Now you should go thru page by page and note the differences in text and images between each successive printing and not it all in an Excel spreadsheet to share with us all. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif

Seriously though, I have wondered about the various printings. Every once in a while I will decide I need that book and go to Abe's or something and start looking at the available copies and get so distracted with all of the different printings, I am not sure which one to get, so I don't get any. Maybe I should start getting all of them? If I could only get one and had to keep the price below, say, $50, which printing would you suggest?

Thanks,

Don

Don,

For reading purposes, get the latest in paperback.

Allan

New Printing which is the 2000 is lousy for the following reasons:

1) Pictures/Plates are terrible compared to other releases.

2) Soft Cover. I feel this to be a pitty since all other copies are hard covers that are wonderfully and taste fully made. The new cover makes the book look less special.

Now far as a copy I would go with a 1952 or a nice 1962. The reason why. The book in size is larger and the fly plates look pretty good and are workable. If you do not care then don't bother with finding a copy with a good dust cover. It will cost you more. I look for in the later books that the book is clean and tight and the cover and the spine are in good condition. You should for $50 dollars be able to pick up a nice book on abe. I feel probably less if you look around. also, look at Alibris as well or a used book dealer in your area.

Andy B

Andy,

That is mega cool. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif Thanks for sharing with us. I'm kinda doing something similar, replacing my Harry Middleton paperbacks with all first edition new/mint hardbacks. I will finish it out with "Rivers of Memory" hopefull this summer, and one day, when I'm rich, "Starlight Creek Angling Society."

Great work, keep at it!

R

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[url=http://www.native-waters.com:32cb7]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:32cb7]

Hey RW he's doing it again we better get that isolated cabin ready.

As much as I like Abe Books or Alibris, also keep an eye on ebay and you should be able to pick up a nice clean copy at a decent price.

I got mine 3rd edition the one with the green dustjacket that added the spinning tackle for $18.00.

Once in a while you can even find a first edition but they're a bit pricey.

Good Luck
Fatman

Fatman:

I could'nt agree with you more. I have picked up the 1962 book for about $20.00 dollars. The book could be sold for an easy $35 dollars or higher. The 1952 I picked up for $15.95 and could easily sale for about $60.00. The 1938 first edition depending on condition and first or second printing with Dust jacket and signed by Ray would go close to $500 dollars if in good to very good condition. Also not that in 1951 the first UK edition was made and sold and if found in good condition today can easily go for $100 dollars. I am not in this for a profit or a dealer. I am a collector and trying to be a historian on the life and times of Ray Bergman. I own all the other Ray Bergamn books with a few signed copies of Just Fishing, Fly Plug and Bait, Fishing with Ray and Fresh water Bass.
Now keep in mind that in Fly Plug and Bait two things worthe mentioning in the color plates is that the Lord Baltimore is tied with a tail of married Black over yellow and in Trout the tail is simply Black. The second thing to note is that fly Plug and Bait introduced the Trout fin. Also Fly Plug and Bait has some beautiful trout painting as well. Nice book. Just fishing written by Ray added some really nice stories that went into some fine details. Love the books period.

Andy B

Gents,
Being on the subject of flyfishing books Please allow me to boast a bit.

A fine english gentleman that works for me
has his father visting from the UK. David
my associate had mentioned to his father that I enjoy the angling sport and reading on it.

We had dinner just last evening and Davids father presents me with a hard bound book
titled "Hardy's Book of Fishing", Compiled by Patrick Annesley. 1971, 1975 edition.

It begins with a written tour of the
Hardy Northumberland Manufactory. The original rod building plant. From there
is seems to cover most aspects of our sport
with some very neat details from the past.

Quite a bit of verbage from era 1898 /1920's discribed tremendously.

The book is in beautful condition bound wonderfully with a paper cover.

Simply a delightful book to read that I shall treasure.

Thanks for letting me share.

Any one else have this nice book?

Care to comment on others as well?

Steve,

No to your question.

None of the books in my collection have a colorful and interesting personal history. Just some very good books worth reading.

Allan

Allan,

While I don't think you could say
the Hardys book has a personal history
per say, at least not of the assembler
of the book, but it is a good read.

Most of the artwork are shades of
light brown. Not very colorful but
very vicely done. So in that sence
it is very colorful indeed.

Any one else have this book?



[This message has been edited by Steve Molcsan (edited 06 February 2005).]

Steve:

I do not have or have seen the book. Maybe I should take a look at it. Thanks for the input.

I just received my copy of the book Trout printed in 2000 with a forward by Gary Lafontaine. The forward I felt was nicely done and Gary once again comes through as the writer he was and provides some quick experiences with the book and an example of fishing one of the wet flies from the Bergman patterns. The color plates in my mind are not as nice as the 1938, 39 51, 52. Like I said before the cover could have been done better and soft cover takes away the mystique and grace that this book is and deserves. You figure that since were in the the year 2005 that some one would have taken the time and really have done a job on the plates that they deserve. Other than that the book Trout is still and will always will be a great book to be placed in your library or collection. No other book has been in printing as long or has been sought by many anglers old and new.

Andy B

Andy,

I know what you mean about the pattern, that is one thing I did notice. I have all his books and an extra copy of both Just Fishing and Fishing with Ray Bergman and wouldn't part with any of them.

The one thing I do regret not getting was when I lost an auction on ebay for a copy of Popular Science magazine from April of 1938 or 39 with an article he wrote on wet flies. I really would like to have had that.

One of these days someone will put together a book of all his articles from fishing magazines, I know I'd buy it.

Fatman

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Just Fishing! All life is that to some extent. If we are not fishing for one thing it is another. But angling! That's just a bit different. In it we find peace and contentment and much with which to occupy our minds. May the balance of our fishing days be blessed with congenial comrades and "tight lines." Ray Bergman

I have a few of Bergmans books to. Not to many of them but earlier editions. But I do have something of his that I have not seen anyone else with? I bought them back in the early 60's in up state New York at an old hardware store while fishing up in the area.

I have sevearl box's of His hooks. It reads

American Fly Hooks

Nyack Brand

Extra Stout

Size 10 100

Made from the finest quality Sheffield steel

Ray Bergman, Nayack, N,Y.

Made in England

Like I said I have had these for many years and they are knida neat to look at now and then. They are well made. I have one box that I have tied out of. The rest are mint. Ron



[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 06 February 2005).]

Andy,

Don't know if you looking for information on different printings, but if you are I have a second edition hardback published in 1968.

If you want to get carried away get a copy of "Hooks For The Fly" by William E, Schmidt, copyright 2000 by Stackpole Books. I picked up a copy at the bargain table at Barns & Noble.

Sory, Sent this to the wrong place.

[This message has been edited by bluehackle (edited 06 February 2005).]

Only have one copy of Trout & it's the 1952 revised & enlarged second edition. Very good reading, as are Just Fishing, Freshwater Bass & Fishing with Ray Bergman. The closest I'll get to anything like that is tying flys on the box of 2X long Nyack Brand Salmon Hooks, dry fly loop eyed size #2, Sheffield steel made in England with the RAY BERGMAN, NYACK N.Y. label!

Andy,

I am interested in knowing what the differences are between the first and second editions of Trout. I know things were added in the second edition, but I am more interested in what was deleted.

Just ordered a 1952 edition of Trout. Also signed up for a class Don Bastian is giving with the local FFF club. Just brushed the Goldie for hair to tie a wet Light Cahill. Have RW and Andy B infected me with some addictive virus?

lou t, RW here

Yes! And it's very contagious.

RW

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"We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours." -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-

Andy,
I have a 1965 Trout. My book is in great condition. The cover was in great condition until my X took it off and threw it away.I wounder what its worth today. The plates are magnificent!!

Tony

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Keep tyin and flyin

Andy B: If you send me your address, I will send you a Ray Bergman Leader (if I can find them in the pile), I had two wet flys and a personal letter from Ray at one time; he
was good enough to do that for a young lad in the 50's, lost them over the years, moving around.

[This message has been edited by Little Juniata33 (edited 25 February 2005).]