Nothing beats the thrill of reeling in The Big One. And, even though the hefty Greville Haslam Sporting Book Collection didn’t put up a fight when it was brought into Special Collections at the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library last fall, the College was nonetheless delighted with the catch.
Donated by Mary and Howard Phipps Jr., the collection of more than 2,000 angling and sporting books published in the 17th through the 20th centuries is one of the finest in the country. It represents some of the most celebrated writers, explorers, collectors and book artists of their time and features signed and limited editions, volumes with artifacts (e.g., samples of yard and bird feathers) affixed to them and copies with unique illustrations and elegant binding.
The Haslam Collection – named for the deceased headmaster, angler, hunter and world traveler who meticulously built and cataloged it over 45 years – offers research opportunities for social and cultural historians, as well as for students of the natural sciences and of book printing, binding and illustration. Recognizing the gift as a significant addition to its already noteworthy natural history collection, the College wasn’t about to let this one get away.
