The Derrydale Press

Ask any avid outdoor book collector which publisher’s titles are most sought after and you’ll get a common response: the Derrydale Press. Its sharp focus on sporting topics, the stellar physical quality and beauty of its books and their sheer rarity make the Derrydale Press the most collected book publisher in the outdoor sporting world. And it all started with one man and a vision.
Eugene V. Connett III was born in 1891, the privileged son of a successful hat manufacturer in the Northeast. Always interested in hunting, fishing and sporting literature, Connett worked in the family business while amassing a large collection of outdoor sporting books. His interest in hunting and fishing, as well as collecting books and publishing were what led to the creation of the Derrydale Press.
The Derrydale Press began publishing books in 1926, not long before the Great Depression and an obviously tough time to start a business. The first two titles Connett published weren’t directly sporting related but they were contract published, meaning there was no risk of unsold inventory and guaranteed income to get the business started. The third title was published for the Angler’s Club of New York, a large sporting club of which Connett was a member. After that, the Press picked up steam and began publishing hunting and fishing titles from authors that we’ve come to know as the best in the business.
The 1930’s were the glory years for the Derrydale Press. In addition to books he authored, Connett was publishing titles from the likes of Nash Buckingham, Jack O’Connor, Russell Annabel, Burton Spiller, Edmund Ware Smith and Ben Ames Williams. At the time, it was the only publishing house in the world dedicated solely to sporting books. Sadly, all good things must come to an end. The onset of World War II created a shortage of quality paper that Connett used to publish his books, and the Derrydale Press closed its doors in 1941.
Today, a dedicated following of Derrydale Press enthusiasts collect books exclusively from this publisher. Several unique characteristics set Derrydales apart. First, the press was devoted to sporting books, which made it a natural target for hunting and fishing book collectors. Second, Connett published very limited runs of most titles, knowing that overprinting would degrade the value of the books and lead to additional marketing needs.
Probably the most notable feature that makes Derrydale titles unique is their incredible quality, both in paper type, visual design and art. As collector Jim Casada points out (www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com), “Connett believed there was a select group of affluent and dedicated sportsmen…willing to pay premium prices for beautifully done, limited edition works.” Not only did the quality make these books collectible back then, it makes them even more appealing to collectors today.
Most of us will never afford much of a Derrydale collection today, but a few titles are available here and there at reasonable prices. If you’re one of the potential buyers of, say, Charles Phair’s “Atlantic Salmon Fishing”, a 1937 Derrydale title that retails for $42,500, then you’re probably not reading this!
The Derrydale Press is technically still publishing books today, though they certainly aren’t the same. The company was bought out and is currently an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, who are reprinting many of the old titles. A reprint of the book above can be bought for $27.95 if you’re more interested in reading the book’s contents than in its collectible value.
It’s nice to think back on a successful publishing company that was dedicated to hunting and fishing titles in the golden age of sporting literature. Will we ever see another Derrydale Press? Not likely, but you never know. I’d like to think a sporting book publisher could be successful today as a hybrid between the print and online worlds, but we’ll have to wait and see.