[ Angler and Flyfisherman, Austin Ridsdale of Mickley and Masham, Yorkshire; Manuscript. ] Autograph Notebook, filled with seasonal directions for making Wet Flies for Fishing (some invented by Ridsdale himself), with diagrams and illustrations.

Entries are written haphazardly at different times, on around 140pp. of a 12mo Boots 'Home Diary for 1931'. The volume is worn and shaken: a clear testimony to many years of field use. At the start the owner is named as 'Austin Ridsdale' of 'Mickley Ripon, Yorks'. This would appear to be an early address. A loosely-inserted envelope with a 1947 postmark is addressed to 'Mr & Mrs A Ridsdale | Aldburgh | Masham | Ripon'. The handwriting, workmanlike at best, varies from entry to entry. The volume constitutes a repository of a countryman's knowledge in the field of fly-fishing. A typical entry reads: 'Datterel Dun, | Body, Brown Fur from Hares Face, Orange or Primrose Silk | Legs, Feather from inside old cock starlings wing | Fished wet in shallow streams. | May to end of Season | Good.' Another reads: 'Theaksons Flys for River Yore | Needle Brown ¼ of inch. | Body, yellow Silk, with a little Moles Fur from inside of Snipes Wing | Early Spring & Autumn'. Another reads: 'Woodcock & Hares Ear | Body-dubbed with Grey part of hares ear picked out with needle to form legs. | Tail, two strands of Mallard wing | Wings inside Woodcock using feather | Fills best April & May.' One created by the compiler reads: 'Ridsdale's Pale Blue Dun | Hackle, Pale Blue | Body, Light yellow Silk well waxed wrapped over with Herons herb. | Tail Light Blue whisks of Herons feather.' And another page carries two: 'Ridsdales Gem. | Hackle Grey dark centre | Body Red Silk, wrapped with Turkey herb, red and of body. | Tail Medium Olive, | Ridsdales Red Spinner | Hackle Red, Wings Red, Body Red, Tail Ginger.' The volume contains a number of diagrams of flies. Loosely inserted throughout the volume are threads and feathers for flies. Also present is a page describing 'How to make an Oilskin' ('Good for dressing old fishing lines'), and another page, with diagram, on 'Thigh Waders from Gum Boots'. There is also a page of five 'SIGNS OF RAIN', including: 'A chaffinch repeating its call foretells rain.'