BASS. By Des Brennan. Colour plates by Keith Linsell. The Osprey Anglers Series.

1974 1st edition. Paperback issue. 4to paperback (188 x 237mm). Pp48. Colour plates by Keith Linsell, b/w photographs, errata slip. Pictorial card covers - stone bass variant.

A concise but very good introduction to bass and bass fishing and part of a very collectible series. Chapters include: Bass - variations and habits; Surf fishing - the shallow storm beach; Tackle for surf fishing; Surf fishing - the steep storm beach and the sheltered beach; Rock fishing; Estuaries large and small; Boat fishing*. Most copies of this book are illustrated on the front cover with a clean, silver European sea bass hooked on leger gear with bait hanging from its mouth. This copy is illustrated on the front cover with what appears to be a stone bass chasing two small soles. These are relatively uncommon and may, perhaps, have been a proof copies. Another possibility is that the first copies were published like this and following advice on this illustration's unsuitability to British sea angling readers they may have been pulped and re-issued with the more appropriate cover illustration. Whatever the case, this is an interesting copy that would make a nice addition to the library of any collector.