A lushly illustrated, in-depth collectors' survey of a century of antique fly-fishing tackle from the 1860s to the 1960s. This book definitely holds some pleasant surprises for the reader. Instead of the expected catalog of collectibles, Campbell provides an interesting account of successes, failures, and oddities. The author, editor of Fishing Collectibles magazine, brings together many sources (the bibliography lists 45) to construct an interesting history. His work concentrates on rods and reels, although information on flies and other accessories merits a single chapter. There is coverage of English, American, and Celtic tackle manufacturers, which allows readers to compare tackle development in different countries. The book provides price information but does not attempt to set prices on individual items. Recommended for fly-fishing collections, although the specialized subject matter may limit its use.?Jeff Grossman, Milwaukee Area Technical Coll. Lib., Oak Creek, Wis. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. In an era of carbon-fiber fishing rods, a seemingly endless variety of fishing lines, and lures that run the entire spectra of color, size, shape, and action, looking at how anglers over a century ago did their fishing induces nostalgia. If you want to indulge that sentiment, sample Campbell's collectors' survey of antique fly-fishing tackle that perforce traces how the machine age changed the way people fished, from just after the Civil War to the World War II era. Collectors highly prize antique rods, reels, lures, and other pieces of tackle and can pay quite a price for them on the open market. Using this well-researched book can help such collectors avoid the inevitable frauds and rip-offs. Jon Kartman Used Book in Good Condition