Vintage Fishing Essays Book — Trout Magic (1983) — Robert Traver | Illustrated Dust Jacket, Angling Humor, Sporting Essays / Fishing Literature

Trout Magic is a 1983 hardcover collection of fishing essays and stories by Robert Traver, written for readers who love trout streams, sporting lore, and smart outdoor writing.

Rather than a how-to manual, this one leans into the culture of angling: tall tales, sharp observations, trout camp humor, and the kind of storytelling that makes fishing literature so easy to revisit.

This copy is illustrated by Milton C. Weiler and includes its light blue dust jacket with the original $12.95 price still visible.

Quick Specs

• Item Type: Vintage hardcover book with dust jacket
• Size: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 in.
• Material: Paper dust jacket over hardcover boards
• Color: Light blue dust jacket; burgundy boards; cream pages
• Origin or Maker: Gibbs M. Smith, Inc. / Peregrine Smith Books, Salt Lake City
• Year or Era: 1983
• GENRE: Sporting Essays / Fishing Literature
• Language / Pages: English / 216 pages
• Identifiers: ISBN 0-87905-145-0

Edition & Features

• Edition/Printing: Later edition; originally published by Crown in 1974, this copy published by Peregrine Smith Books in 1983
• Dust Jacket: Present; price intact at $12.95
• Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Illustrated by Milton C. Weiler
• Extras: Jacket copy credits Winslow Homer’s Leaping Trout image; chaptered essay collection with decorative title openings

Condition Grade: Good

Notes: Clean, attractive copy with crisp pages and solid binding. Dust jacket shows light overall wear and a noticeable crease/tear area at the lower spine edge. Hardcover boards present well with mild shelf wear. Interior pages look clean from the photos, with light age toning typical for the period.

• See all photos for detail—sold as pictured.

Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound reading copy; some marks.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.

About the Author: ROBERT TRAVER

Robert Traver was the pen name of John D. Voelker, a Michigan Supreme Court justice, writer, and devoted trout fisherman. His fishing books are loved for their dry humor, strong sense of place, and affection for the rituals and absurdities of angling life.

This is the kind of fishing book that reads as well in an armchair as it does in a cabin by the river.

Shelf-worthy vintage finds you can trust. Find Your Story.

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Disclaimer  

The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide. While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.

Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings. Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.