THE WAY OF A MAN WITH A NYMPH: THE NYMPH DRESSINGS OF G.E.M. SKUES. Introduction by Tony Hayter.

(2005) 2007 1st edition thus. 8vo (140 x 220mm). Pp100. Edition limited to 80 copies, each with a numbered bookplate. Plain blue buckram gilt, silk marker.

This small book was truly a co-operative effort. Begun by Donald Overfield and Timothy Benn, the publisher, it was shelved on Overfield's death, then later completed by Benn and Tony Hayter. The book contains three pieces: i. An extended essay by Tony Hayter entitled G.E.M. Skues and the Nymph; ii. An excerpt from The Flyfishers' Journal describing a Flyfisher's Club debate of 1938 on nymph fishing in chalkstreams; iii. Skues' Nymphs and other Fly Dressings, excerpted from Overfield's The Way of a Man with aTrout. Timothy Benn provides introductory remarks and Kenneth Robson the preface. The book was edited by Jonathan Newdick, while Terry Griffiths contributed an appreciation of Jim Nice - who tied the flies for the book's de luxe edition - to the Flies volume. This appreciation, however, is not reproduced here. In his introductory remarks, Benn refers to "the author and I". . . , but is not explicit who he means. It seems probable that Hayter is intended, and that the Debate and Nymphs sections were meant as appendices to Hayter's 28-page essay. The legal declaration on the title-page verso gives Hayter, Robson and Griffiths jointly as authors, despite Griffiths' work not appearing and Robson's being merely a brief preface. This edition is taken from an 80-copy overprint of bookblocks for the original leather limited edition, numbered independently and bound simply in plain blue buckram.