ANON.       - with a meeting and Dinner for the famous Pitt Club.
London Tavern
Tree items of Ephemera. 1. A letter. 2. A table-plan. 3. An Illustration of a lavish Dinner.
ITEM 1. A general folded letter headed 'The Pitt Club' addressed to Tho. Olney, from A.D. Welch; Secretary, inviting him to the London Tavern for a General Meeting of the Club on Friday May 16th, 1828 to participate in a ballot for the 48 candidates named in the letter. The invitation is also for a celebration Dinner on the anniversary of Pitts birthday on May 28th. ITEM 2. An A3 sheet of strong paper showing an extremely well-designed table plan for an Inauguration Banquet at the Tavern on November 3rd, 1870. This table plan alone with its list of 40 titled people at the top-table, [see image # 2 below] gives a true first impression of the professionalism of the Tavern's organisation. ITEM 3. This is a wonderful Illustrated London News engraving dated Feb.12th 1859, of a complimentary dinner set-up for Mr Davis, The Huntsman of Her Majesties Staghounds at the London Tavern. All items housed in a marble papered folder.
- These items of ephemera, are interesting for two reasons. The London Tavern and its table settings and the historic Pitt Club, meeting there on May 3rd 1828. The Tavern was the most prestigious catering venue in London. (for a full description of the Tavern and its massive catering operation, see item # 11217, on this book-site.) The Pitt Club was apparently officially founded in Michaelmas term 1835, [although the letter here, irrefutably proves the club members were being nominated already in 1828.] and named in honour of the Prime Minister, from 1783 – January 1801 - William Pitt the Younger, who had previously been a student at Pembroke College, Cambridge. The Pitt Club was originally intended as one of many political clubs set up across Great Britain, 'to do honour to the name and memory of Mr William Pitt, and to uphold in general the political principles for which he stood'. In particular the University Pitt Club was intended to assist the local party organisations of the town of Cambridge to return worthy, that is to say, Tory, representatives to Parliament and to the Borough Council. From the start, however, there was a social element as the Club's political events were combined with 'the pleasures of social intercourse at dinner, when party fervour among friends, dining in party uniform, might be warmed towards a political incandescence by the speeches to successive toasts'. Over the course of the Pitt Club's first few decades, the political element diminished whilst the social element increased. By '1868, at the latest, the Pitt Club ceased from all political activity and elected members to its social advantages without any regards whatever to considerations of political party'. Though the Club's 'raison d'être' changed in its early years, it was from the first, and always remained, an undergraduate organization. The Pitt Club has been in almost continuous operation since its founding. During the First World War, however, the Club's existence became increasingly tenuous as more Cambridge men joined the forces. It temporarily closed in October 1917 but reopened in early 1919. By 1920, the Club had become, according to the Minutes; "nearly normal again, the only real trouble being the horrible scarcity of whisky". After the Second World War and they had to seek alternative accommodation, and eventually settled for rooms above the post office in Trinity Street, which they called the Interim Club. On 7 November 2017, a referendum to elect women into the club passed. This did not pass without controversy though, with only resident members being granted a vote. With ladies now elected, one imagines that the full maturation of the historical Pitt 'Social' Club's non-political activities progressed to everyone's full satisfaction. These are rare items of ephemera, especially the dating of the Pitt Club's activities in the letter. The other surprise also, is the London Tavern's high level of quality.

click on image to enlarge
Information

category
ref number: 11319

ANON:       - A scarce recipe book for use of Isinglass.
PASTRY-COOK AND CONFECTIONER.
FOURTEENTH EDITION. (a small single line) A HANDY GUIDE ON WHAT TO BUY; WITH RECIPES AND HINTS FOR PREPARING ALL KINDS OF PUDDINGS, PIES, JELLIES, ETC., TOGETHER WITH ADVICE AS TO THE DESCRIPTION AND QUALITIES OF ARTICLES TO BE USED. (a small single line) CONTENTS. Preface p3. Jellies and Creams. p5. Pastry p11. Cakes and Biscuits p13. Puddings p18. Preserves p26. Savoury and Aspic Jellies. ALSO a Fifteenth edition. (see the 2nd image below). It has 40p instead of the previous 32p.
Slim 8vo. Circa 1849. 204 x 136mm. The nicely illustrated front cover similar to the text of the title page with the addition of LONDON: PUBLISHED BY G.P. SWINBORNE & CO., 33 & 34, ST. ANDREWS HILL, E.C. 1891. Blue paper with desserts arranged around flower-and-fruit centrepiece on front [1] First page - the verdict of the Judgment [sic] of the Lord Chief Justice on November 16th 1888 found in favour of Swinborne's refined Isinglass. 2nd Page Confirming Swinborne's Patent for Gelatine and Isinglass. Title page. p4. An advertisement for Isinglass. p5. Preface to the fourteenth Edition. 4-32. Inside of back cover; Index. Back cover blank. 2nd ITEM. JCCat records this 15th Edition published in 1892. Other 15th editions were published 1897 and another of 1900. Only the invalid recipes on pages 33-40, written by Lady Constance Eleanora Caroline Howard, are new to this edition and presumably the two that came later. Both items in good condition considering their delicate construction.
- A nice company production from Messrs Swinborne, that produces Isinglass which is a pure form of Gelatine. The best kinds came from Brazil and Russia. Isinglass is a key ingredient in the classic Russian Salmon dish with boiled Eggs, Rice and Mushrooms wrapped in a Croute of Brioche. Once cooked it has Isinglass poured inside the croute. This dish would have been a natural development over time by Russian cooks as the best and most common Isinglass (a form of collagen) was produced from Sturgeon. Nowadays Isinglass is rare and very good Gelatine is widely available made from pigs and cows skin and bones. From the UC.Davis. Robert Mondavi institute for Wine and Science, online, we can find some bibliographical facts about the different editions: 1st edition 1879. BMCat cites "Universal cookery series. No. 1. Pastry-cook and confectioner... A handy guide on what to buy", London: L. Emanuel, 1879, pages 32. This may well be the first edition 7th edition of 1882. G. P. Swinborne and Co's name does not appear in the title of the seventh edition as it does in the title of later editions Another edition 1887. CBCat. cites a 32-page edition published in 1887.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11271

Armstrong.   John     Daunting expectations but an interesting read.
THE YOUNG WOMAN'S GUIDE.
TO Virtue, Economy, and Happiness; Being an improved and pleasant Directory FOR CULTIVATING THE HEART AND UNDERSTANDING; WITH A COMPLETE AND ELEGANT SYSTEM OF DOMESTIC COOKERY, Formed upon principles of Economy: ALSO, The Art of Carving and Decorating a Table, explained by Engravings. Confectionary in all its Branches. Proper Directions for Marketing, and Bills of Fare for every Day in the Year. (2 perpendicular lines) Best Method of Brewing for large or small Families. Making and managing British Wines. Valuable Medical Directions. A great Variety of useful Family Re-ceipts. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, Instructions to Female Servants in every Situation; APPROVED RULES FOR NURSING AND EDUCATING CHILDREN, AND FOR PROMOTING MATRIMONIAL HAPPINESS; ILLUSTRATED By interesting Tales and Memoirs of celebrated Females; The whole combining all that is essential to the Attainment of EVERY DOMESTIC, ELEGANT, AND INTELLECTUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT. (a small shaped line) BY MR JOHN ARMSTRONG, And Assistants of unquestionable Experience in Medicine, Cookery, Brewing, and all the Branches of Domestic Economy. (a small shaped line) Embellished and illustrated with twelve appropriate Engraving. (a long shaped line) Newcastle upon Tyne, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MACKENZIE AND DENT, ST. NICOLAS CHURCH-YARD.
FIRST EDITION. n/d. Circa 1817. 214 x 138 x 43 mm. 2feps with a manuscript recipe for French Polish tipped in. An Engraved Frontis. An elegant extra engraved title page. [1] The Title Page. [1] A Dedication from the Editor. [1] (1)vi-xii Preface. (1)14 - 684. (1)ii - xii Contents. 1fep. The Frontis and 2 title pages have a 1" stain on the bottom of the page. The rest of the text block very slight age dusted. Bound in full dark brown calf with nice patina. the spine with blind tooling and faded gilt, with dark red label with gilt tooling.
- Nothing can be found pertaining to this thick book and it's author. It seems that Mr John Armstrong is also the editor. The dedication page proclaims itself to be a new, safe and pleasant guide to all young Females. In the preface we are further informed; "that it is no part of the writer's plan to make fine Ladies: but every young woman desirous of learning the proper management of a family; of improving her charms and her understanding; and for preserving the love and esteem of her lover, or her husband, will find in this work an invaluable companion, which will neither flatter nor deceive". Written and produced by a man, this is a frightening checklist that modern women would find disagreeable, combined also with the forcefully stated assumptions that are staggering. Just reading all the tasks and skills assembled on the title page, that the poor lady has to master, is thoroughly daunting. One can further assume that this book was probably used as a weapon more often than not, on husbands dumb enough to hand it to their new unsuspecting brides.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11306

ATHENAEUS.      
Banquet des Savans, par Athenee,
Traduit, tant sur les Textes imprimes, que sur plusieurs Manuscrits, Par M. LEFEBVRE DE VILLEBRUNE. ---- Pour nous, qui ne pouvons lus consulter qu'une tres-petite des Auteurs alegues par Athenee, et qui ne tronvons que danas son livre cent particularites curieuses dont il parle, nous regardons sa compilation comme un tresor tres-precieux. BAYLE, Dict. ---- A PARIS, Chez LAMY, Libraire, quai des Augustines, no. 26. DE L'IMPRIMERIE DE MONSIEUR. M.DCC.LXXXIX. AVEC APPROBATION, ET PRIVELEDGE DU ROI. Five Volumes -- Tomes 1-4 dated 1789. Tome 5 dated 1791.
FIRST EDITION. 4to. TOME.1 Frontispiece. Title page. 1-504 [3] TOME.2 Half-title. Title page. 1-537 misprinted as 503 [3] TOME 3. Half-title. Title page. 1-563 [4] TOME 4. Half-title. Title page. 1-561 [4] TOME 5. Half-title. Frontispiece. first title page -- OEUVRES D' ATHENEE ou Le Banquet DES SAVANS. A PARIS, Chez LAMY, Libraire, quai des Augustines, no. 26. M.DCC.XCII. 2nd Title page. with date M.DCC.XCII. The first four title pages have the date - M.DCC.LXXXIX. [i-x] 1-562. All volumes in quarter bottle green calf with green mottled paper boards, calf corners and gilt lines. Spines have raised bands, tome number and gilt lettering. A little wear to the boards, and very clean and crisp internally. Overall a handsome and very scarce set.
- Jean Baptiste Lefebvre de Villebrune's (1732-1809) effort at the first serious translation into French of Athenaeus's Greek classic about eating habits. Athenaeus [fl.3rd century], in particular, presents the Greek and Oriental kitchens in all their aspects, and with his marvelous erudition, proves himself a Burton of Gastronomy- the most accomplished Master of Feasts that antiquity has produced. The book is a symposium held by 21 artists, writers, musicians and surgeons, discussing all things, which according to Greek custom, should adorn a banquet. The names of the most famous gastronomes and of the most celebrated cooks are recorded. The virtues and qualities of wines are the subjects of long discourses. Table ornaments and decoration are also covered -- (Ben Kinmont. Cat.2. 2000.) Kinmont also notes that Lamy published another edition of 4 volumes only, in the same year, but with vingettes. This set, although five instead of four volumes, also has the beautiful vingettes. A very desirable set. A rare recording of gastronomic history.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 10943

Atkyns (pseud).   Arabella     - the very rare 1st edition.
The Family Magazine
Part 1. Containing Useful Directions in All the Branches of HOUSE-KEEPING and COOKERY Particularly Shewing How to Buy-in the Best of all Sorts of provisions; As Poultry-Ware, Butchers-Meat, Fish, Fruit, &c. With several Hundred Receipts in COOKERY, PASTRY, PICKLING, CONFECTIONARY, DISTILLING, BREWING, COSMETICKS, C. (a single line) PART 11. Containing A Compendious BODY of PHYSICK’ TREATING All the Diseases and Accidents INCIDENT TO MEN, WOMEN, and CHILDREN: WITH Practical Rules and Directions for the Preserving and Restoring of Health, and Prolonging Life. (a single line) In a Method intirely New and Intelligent; in which every Disease is rationally and practically considered, in its several Stages and Changes; and approved RECIPE’s inserted under every Distemper, in Alphabetical Order. Being principally the Common-place Book of a late able PHYSICIAN, by which he successfully, for many Years, regulated his Practice. (a single line) With a SUPPLEMENT, containing a great Variety of Experienced Receipts, from Two Excellent FAMILY COLLECTIONS. (a single line) Now First communicated for the Public Benefit. (a single line) To which is Added, As Explanation of such Terms of Art used in the WORK, as could not be so easily reduced to the Understanding of common Readers. ( a double line) LONDON: Printed for J. Osborn,at the Golden-Ball in Paternoster-Row. (a single line) MDCCXLI.
FIRST EDITION 1741. 8vo. 1fep. Title page, with a library stamp of St. Francis Xavier College 1847. New York, N.Y. On verso the same library stamp. iii-xiv The Preface. 2nd Title page to Part 1. [1] (1)2-123. 3p Index to the first Part. Title page to Part 11, with the same library stamp, also on the verso. [1] iii-xiv The Preface. 2nd Title page to Part 11. [1] (1)2-270. 271-315 Supplement. 316-318 Explanation of difficult words, also has the library stamp on p318. (2)321-324 Index. 1fep. There are some illustrations in the text for placing dishes on the table. Sometime rebound by Beranad Middleton in full period style speckled calf, with his signature in pencil on the lower inside back pastedown. The boards bordered with double gilt lines. Spine with raised bands and gilt lines with red label in gilt lettering and lines. Old tape repair to p13-14 of part 11. Skilful paper repair without loss to p303-304, also has the library stamp at the bottom of p304. A little age browning to first and last few leaves, but overall a very good copy.
- Arabella Atkyns was a pseudonym coined by the author who states in the preface “Being still teized [sic] for some Name, I will, tho’ not my right one, subscribe to That of Arabella Atkyns”. Oxford states on p72 that part 11, the medical section is taken from a common-place book of her brother who was a Physician. She also apologises for including treatments for maladies which a lady can hardly be expected to include. Oxford further states that the cookery section is well arranged, but the medical part is full of horrors. The treatment for appendicitis is ‘to apply a live puppy to the naked belly’ and follows up with a cataplasm of rotten apples or of ‘sheeps-dung boil’d with milk’. It is believed that Hannah Glasse borrowed much from this book for her ‘Compleat Confectioner’ circa 1760. MacLean has the 1st and cites a 2nd of 1743, 3rd of 1747, 4th of 1754. Oxford p71. Axford p143. Bitting p550. Craig p478. MacLean p49. Pennell p150.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11225

Bailey.   Nathan     - A rare important work with more precise recipes.
Dictionarium Domesticum.
Being a NEW and COMPLETE, Household Dictionary. For the Use both of CITY and COUNTRY. SHEWING, I. The whole Arts of Brewing, Baking, Cookery, and Piceling. Also Confectionary in its several Branches. II. The Management of the Kitchin, Pantry, Lar-der, Dairy, Olitory, and Poultry. With the proper Seasons for Flesh, Fowl and Fish. III. The Herdsman: Giving an Account of the Diseases of Cattle Poultry, &c. And the most approved Remedies for their Cure. IV. The English Vineyard; being the best Method of making English Wines and of Distilling most Kinds of Simple and Cordial Waters. V. The Apiary: Or, The Manner of Breeding, Hiving and managing of Bees. VI. The Family Physician and Herbalist: Containing the choicest Collection of Receipts for most Distempers, incident to Human Bodies, hitherto made Publick; with the Qualities and Uses of Physical Herbs and Plants of English Growth. (a long horizontal line). By N. BAILEY, Author of the Universal Etymological English Dictionary. (2 long horizontal lines). LONDON: Printed for C, Hitch at the Red Lion, and C. Davies, both in Pater-Noster Row; and S. Austen at the Angel and Bible, in St. Paul's Church-Yard. (a small horizontal line). M,DCC,XXX,V,I.
FIRST EDITION 1736. 8vo. 198 x 120 x 43mm. Inside cover with bookplate of Alan Davidson. 1fep. [1] Verso with engraved Frontispiece of five separate scenes domesticity. Cropped close at the bottom with no loss. Title page. [1] 2p Preface. 306 leaves 612 pages. Pages un-numbered but ordered alphabetically at the top of each page. 1fep. Bound in 19th century quarter calf and tips, with pebble cloth covers. The spine with gilt title, lines and simple tooled ornaments. Red speckled text-block edges. The feps stained without detracting. Internally very clean. All quite sound and VG.
- Although precise details of his birth and formative years are hard to find, it is well recorded that Nathan Bailey was an English philologist and lexicographer. He was the author of several dictionaries. He was a Seventh Day Baptist, admitted 1691 to a congregation in Whitechapel, London. Later he had a school at Stepney. Bailey, with John Kersey the younger, was a pioneer of English lexicography, and changed the scope of dictionaries to a greater comprehensivity. Up to the early eighteenth century, English dictionaries had generally focused on "hard words" and their explanation, for example those of Thomas Blount and Edward Phillips in the generation before. With a change of attention, to include more commonplace words and those not of direct interest to scholars, the number of headwords in English dictionaries increased spectacularly. Innovations were in the areas of common words, dialect, technical terms, and vulgarities. Bailey's An Universal Etymological English Dictionary, from its publication in 1721, became the most popular English dictionary of the 18th century, and went through nearly thirty editions. It was also the basis of English-German dictionaries. This copy here of Bailey's 'Dictionarium Domesticum,' 1736, is also a cookbook with recipes, including a rare one for fried chicken. The alphabetical ordering of the book is unusual, and the recipes are much more detailed than is the norm in other cookery books of the time. This gives it a greater importance than some of the other well-known 18th century cookery books. Nathan Bailey died June 27th, 1742, six years after Dictionarium Domesticum's publication.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11330

Beauvilliers.   Antione B.     - Very scarce second English edition.
The Art of French Cookery.
BY A.B. BEAUVILLIERS, RESTAURATEUR, PARIS. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN. PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1825.
Second edition. 182x112 mm. 2 feps (one modern one original). Title Page. [1] (1)iv-vi Discourse. (1)viii-xiii To Mistresses of Families. (1)xv To the Cook. [1] (1)2-347. [1] 11p Menus. 1p Lines for notes. (1)362-380. 1fep. Internally very clean with untrimmed and many uncut pages. Half fawn calf with marbled boards. A very nice copy of the very scarce English translation.
- Antoine B. Beauvilliers, born 1754, died 31.1.1817, was a French restaurateur; He published 'l’Art du Cuisinier' in 2 volumes in 1814. A first English translation titled ‘The Art of French Cookery’ was published in 1824 and this second edition here published one year later. Beauvilliers was trained in the royal kitchen of the Bourbons, and served as steward in the household of the Count of Provence; the future King Louis XVIII. He created and opened La Grande Taverne de Londres at 26 rue de Richelieu in 1782, which it is claimed, was the first real restaurant in Paris. He was famous for greeting clients wearing a sword, which is amusingly suggested online, probably came in handy if they were a bit strapped when it came to paying. In 1792 the chaos of the French Revolution forced him to shut his doors and he was imprisoned for a while. Beauvilliers also spent some time working in England as association with the nobility in France might have endangered his life. Returning to Paris towards the end of the Directory however, he re-opened his restaurant, and re-named it the 'Taverne de Londres'. It was the first luxury restaurant to open in the aftermath of the Revolution. (Mosimann Cat.#23) The term restaurant already existed in France, but it previously referred only to small establishments that sold broth or bouillon as restoratives. In his establishment, Beauvilliers was the first to offer an 'a la carte' menu‘ (meaning from the card) offering his guests the opportunity to choose from a number of menu items, as opposed to the fixed 'table d’hote' menu of the past. Restaurants proliferated after the Revolution as the nobility’s former chefs returned and sought employment. They were in contrast to Antonin Careme who had stayed, lived and worked through the social upheaval. He represented the grandest statement of the old, court-based cuisine. He was one of the last practitioners of 'service a la francaise', that found expression in the great buffets and dinners of the nobility, serving as many as eighty dishes for one meal. The recipes in Beauvilliers book are very precise and written for the professional. In a time of great social and political change in France his book is also an important milestone on the gastronomic landscape of that country's great culinary tradition. Careme's style of service was no longer tenable. Beauvillier's restaurant was as different and modern as Adria's 'El Bulli' is today. A new age had dawned in France and pragmatic necessity dictated, as always.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11174

Beeton   Isabella Mary     - The 2nd Edition, 1869.
The Book of Household Management
COMPRISING INFORMATION FOR MISTRESS, HOUSEKEEPER, COOK, KITCHEN-MAID, BUTLER, FOOTMAN, COACHMAN, VALET, UPPER AND UNDER HOUSE-MAIDS, LADY'S MAID, MAID-OF-ALL-WORK, LAUNDRY-MAID, NURSE AND NURSE-MAID, MONTHLY, WET AND SICK NURSES, ETC.ETC. Also Sanitary, Medical, and Legal Memoranda; with a History of the Origin, Properties, and Uses of All Things connected with Home Life and Comfort. BY MRS ISABELLA BEETON. ENTIRELY NEW EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED, WITH NEW COLOURED ENGRAVINGS. TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVENTH THOUSAND. LONDON: WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER, WARWICK HOUSE, PATERNOSTER ROW.
Thick 8vo. The Paste-down and 1fep packed and verso of Half title with advertisements .[1] Frontispiece. Tissue guard. Title page. Verso with advertisements. (1)iv Preface to the first and new editions. (1)vi General Contents. (1)viii-xxxv Analytical Index. xxxvi-xl Index to Engravings. (1) List of 12 Coloured Engravings. 5p Advertisements. [1]2-1139. [1 A staggering 45 pages of Advertisements. The back paste-down and end-paper with advertisements. With the original green cloth boards. The sympathetically re-laid maroon spine with gilt-tooling. Internally very clean and bright. A handsome copy.
- This copy is quite different in appearance to the previous four issues of the first edition. Although also having 12 plates, they are very different, and in the book all available space is filled with advertisements, (an unbelievable 5 pages at the front and 45 pages at the back) giving a clue to the aggressive marketing by Ward, Lock & Tyler who knew full well the popularity of Isabella's literary legacy. By 1890 over half a million copies of 'The Book of Household Management' had been sold with no sign of demand abating, assuring its reputation as the publishing phenomenon of the nineteenth century. One assumes Isabella and Samuel ran out of the original plates completely, before this publication of the new and very different corrected second edition of 1869.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11068

Beeton.   Isabella Mary     - 1st Edition - 1st issue.
The Book of Household Management
Comprising information for the MISTRESS, HOUSEKEEPER, COOK, KITCHEN-MAID, BUTLER, FOOTMAN, COACHMAN, VALET, UPPER AND UNDER HOUSE-MAIDS, LADY'S MAID, MAID-OF-ALL-WORK, LAUNDRY-MAID, NURSE AND NURSE-MAID, MONTHLY, WET AND SICK NURSES, ETC.ETC. ALSO SANITARY, MEDICAL AND LEGAL MEMORANDA; WITH A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, PROPERTIES, AND USES OF ALL THINGS CONNECTED WITH HOME LIFE AND COMFORT. BY MRS ISABELLA BEETON. "Nothing lovelier can be found in woman, than to study household good".-Milton. LONDON: S.O. BEETON, 248, STRAND, W.C. 1861.
FIRST EDITION, First issue. Thick 8vo. 2feps. Double chromo-lithographed frontispiece and elaborate title page with the Bouverie St address. Additional Title Page. [1] [iv-iv] [1] [vi-xxxix] including analytical index. [1] 2-1112. 2feps. 12 Colour plates. Original maroon half calf with maroon cloth boards and calf tips with gilt lines. Contemporary ornate gilt tooled spine relaid, with one panel used for book title. Faded gilt to page edges Overall slightly rubbed and faded but still very good. Clean internally with overall slight browning due to age. A handsome copy.
- Various editions of Beeton's cookery books are fairly numerous -- online, in auctions and in book-fairs, and the two issues of the first edition are far from rare, (although the first issue is very scarce) but they continue to maintain high prices, and are much sought after. This is accounted for by their far-reaching fame, and the fact that they are one of the most attractive cookery books ever published. Their famous double chromo-lithographed frontispiece and elaborate colourful first title page, additional second title page, the unique colour plates, dozens of page illustrations, comprehensive recipes, and chapters on all aspects of household management, are a great and true reflection of Victorian values, style and endeavor. "The Book of Household Management' was originally issued by Isabella in 24 monthly parts from 1859-61. The 24 parts, unlike the books are extremely rare. The book is a relatively small, but fat octavo, and holds a place in collectors affections that possibly other cookery books do not.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 10912

Beeton.   Isabella Mary     - 1st Edition - 2nd issue.
The Book of Household Management
Comprising information for the MISTRESS, HOUSEKEEPER, COOK, KITCHEN-MAID, BUTLER, FOOTMAN, COACHMAN, VALET, UPPER AND UNDER HOUSE-MAIDS, LADY'S MAID, MAID-OF-ALL-WORK, LAUNDRY-MAID, NURSE AND NURSE-MAID, MONTHLY, WET AND SICK NURSES, ETC.ETC. ALSO SANITARY, MEDICAL AND LEGAL MEMORANDA; WITH A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, PROPERTIES, AND USES OF ALL THINGS CONNECTED WITH HOME LIFE AND COMFORT. BY MRS ISABELLA BEETON. "Nothing lovelier can be found in woman, than to study household good".-Milton. LONDON: S.O. BEETON, 248, STRAND, W.C. 1861.
FIRST EDITION, Second Issue. Thick 8vo. 2feps. Double chromo-lithographed frontispiece and elaborate title page with the Strand address. Additional Title Page. [1] [iv-iv] [1] [vi-xxxix] including analytical index. [1] 2-1112. 2feps. Modern full light tan calf with blind tooled lines on boards, raised bands and blind and gilt tooling on spine, green label with gilt lettering. Bright gilt on page edges. Very clean externally and internally. The "Free, fair homes of England" frontispiece has been very slightly cropped (without loss) and relaid on backing paper. The 12 chromolithographed plates all present.
- This second issue of the first edition is almost exactly the same, text, pages and chapters, as the first issue. The three small differences are, firstly -- the address on the first elaborate title page, reads, 248 STRAND instead of 18 BOUVERIE ST as on the first issue. The 2nd difference is the colour of the elaborate title page and the the 12 coloured plates. On the first issue the plates are predominately green with a white background. On this second issue the Title page and plates have a tan background. The design and dishes shown on the two sets of plates are otherwise, exactly the same. The 3rd difference is on p vi, 'General Contents'. The first line of the errata on the first issue reads; page 57, while on this issue, it reads; page 657. A beautiful, clean and desirable copy

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 10913