A little over a week ago, I took our reconstructed Breeches Bible, see previous musings, down to show the couple that I bought it from, earlier in the year. They were delighted to see it. While there, they said there were some other books that I had not seen on my previous trip. Perusing the shelves, I saw a book about carp, and I hurried ahead, but then came across another book about carp and then another. All published in England by a Peter Mohan and two were signed. I got out my phone and did a quick look at Abebook listings where he was well represented. A small collection of books about carp – who knew – and why not. So, I bought them.
Later, recording the purchase, and looking up prices for the individual items, which varied quite a bit, I realized that I had myself a conundrum. Do I sell the items individually or as a collection? I have never done the latter, but I see other dealers do it quite regularly.
There were two early studies, from 1970 and 1973, that were scarce and quite sought after.
Then there were two books, from 1972 and 1985, that were not as scarce and were in a lower price range.
Lastly, a magazine that included a laid in photocopy of a tribute to Peter Mohan, from a later issue of the magazine.
I decided to put them up for sale as a collection. My thinking was I might well sell the first two items but not the remainder. My thinking was there is not much of a market for carp books in Canada. But the market might well be bigger than just the UK. Our son, Gregory, lived in the Czech Republic for several years and I recall him telling us that a traditional Christmas meal there was carp. People would buy a live carp and keep it in the bathtub for a couple of days and cook it up Christmas Eve. Common in Central Europe.
Last night, I put the collection up on Abebooks. Here is the description that I put together.
A Peter Mohan Carp Fishing Collection: 1 – All About Carp Fishing; an Angler’s Mail Special; a practical guide by Peter Mohan, secretary of the British Carp Study Group, December 1970, signed Love from Peter, very good condition of a very scarce title. 2 – Carp Carp Carp: the First Annual of the British Carp Study Group (BCSG); edited by Peter Mohan & Michael Starkey; published by the BCSG, 1973, covers and first and last leaves scuffed up and slight water damage, balance of volume in near-fine condition, a very scarce and desirable title. 3 – Carp for Everyone, by Peter Mohan, illustrated by Ernest Petts; David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1972; signed Love Peter, book and dust jacket near-fine. 4 – Cypry: The Story of a Carp; Peter Mohan; Beekay Publishers, Enfield, England, 1985. Book fine in a near-fine dust jacket. 5 – The Carp Catcher: Autumn 1989; magazine published by The Carp Anglers Association, Peter Mohan, editor. Near-fine condition. 6 – photocopy of A Tribute to Peter Mohan, by Len Gurd, from a later The Carp Angler’s Association magazine.
From the Tribute to Peter Mohan – I first met Peter at the AGM of the British Carp Study Group, back in 1972, at Billing Aquadrome. The group, which Peter founded in 1969 as the world’s first national organization for carp anglers, was in its early days then, but had already become one of the most sought after and prestigious organizations within the angling world. It was already publishing its own professional magazine, the first specialized single species journal of its kind in this country and the world’s first carp magazine. Later, in 1974, and still at Billing Aquadrome, Peter arranged another meeting, and as a result of this The Carp Angler’s Association was formed and Peter was unanimously elected as Secretary. Under his guidance the CAA went from strength to strength to become the biggest single species organization of its kind in Europe with members in 17 countries. Peter has caught more than 4,000 carp, from 138 waters, written 8 books, edited dozens of magazines for the BCSG and the CAA, and several other books, and written hundreds of articles on angling.