IN PURSUIT OF THE LARGEST. By Terry Hearn. First edition.

ND (1999) 1st edition. 8vo (151 x 216mm). Pp319. Colour photographs and illustrations. Green boards, spine titled in gilt.

Terry Hearn is the captor of seven different 40lb+ carp from six different British waters. He and his friends discuss places, rigs and methods. Chapters include: Yateley - the first taste; Forty Yateley carp; First Yateley 'thirty'; Bazil - a new quest; The Car Park Lake; Summer in the city; Heather the leather; The Pads Lake; Time to wander; Wraysbury - a new record; Dinton; Rig talk; The Mere - the carp that time forgot; Kent - The Brook; Life goes on. Also includes the following guest chapters: Dintons first forty by John Spires; Dinton daze by Bernie Loftus; Lucky Heather by Nigel Sharp; The royal forty by Lewis Read; Wraysbury myths and legends by Wayne Dunn; The impossible dream by Dave Mallin; 40/40 vision by Steve Mogford; 'Herts' of gold by Paul Forward; Thames record carp by John Gard. This book was subsequently reprinted without change, carrying the new dust-wrapper price of 24.95. The photographs and illustrations in this first edition are of noticeably better quality than in the reprint. There, they are darker with less definition and shades of pinkish-purple often appearing where there should be blue or green.