David.   Elizabeth     From the Elizabeth David auction of her kitchenware.
A fine collection of 17th to 19th century sugar crushers.
Seven fine crystal and glass antique sugar crushers with the auction labels still attached.
Wrapped in tissue paper and stored in a cardboard black box with 2 maroon morocco labels and gilt text. A unique set.
- Elizabeth David [ED] (born Elizabeth Gwynne, 26 December 1913) passed away at the Royal Cornwall Hospital following a short illness, aged 84 years. She died in the early hours of 22 May 1992 having suffered a stroke followed two days later by another, which was fatal; She was buried on 28 May at the family church of St Peter ad Vincula, Folkington. A memorial service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 10 September. After her death her four nephews decided they could not hold on to her kitchenware. It was decided that Phillips of Bayswater would handle the sale. On February 1994, ED's possessions were put up for auction, but nothing prepared auctioneers for the interest generated by the prospect of owning the utensils that helped revolutionise British cookery. A Phillip's spokesman declared "We expected to realise about UK£15,000, maybe £20,000, but we finally achieved £49,000. There was even an exclamation about the cook who spent £200 on one glass sugar-crusher. This collection of sugar crushers assembled by ED. were important 17 to 19th century home kitchen tools. Because sugar at that time was transported in dense sugar loafs that had to be managed in the households, broken down into small hard lumps, the crushers were essential. Now not used, needed nor produced, ED. was well aware of their uniqueness. From Alimentarium's online site, the history of sugar is explained well: "People have always known honey and, for a long time, it was the only sweetener used. Originally from New Guinea, sugar cane very soon migrated to Southwest Asia and aroused keen interest among the people who discovered it. In the 6th century BC, the Persians invaded India and marvelled at this ‘reed which gives honey without the need for bees. In the reign of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, sugar cane reached the Middle East. During Antiquity and the Middle Ages, sugar was a rare and expensive commodity, as with spices such as saffron and nutmeg. From the late 15th century, shortly after Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to America, sugar cane plantations developed in the West Indies, then South America, particularly in Brazil. Sugar became the top colonial commodity. It was at the root of the evil ‘triangular trade’, where European shipowners exchanged trinkets for African men, who were then sold as slaves in America. The ships then returned to Europe with products from the colonies, including precious sugar. In the early 19th century, in response to the English blockade on sugar from the West Indies, Napoleon ordered sugar beet to be grown on French soil. Andreas Sigismund Marggraf, a German chemist, had discovered the sweetening aspect of the beet in 1757. In 1811, the first economically viable sugar beet processing plant was built in France. Sugar became widely consumed in the late 19th century, as a result of the farming of sugar beet". A sugarloaf (see image #5 below) was the usual form in which refined sugar was produced and sold until the late 19th century, when granulated and cube sugars were introduced. A tall cone with a rounded top was the end product of a process in which dark molasses, a rich raw sugar that was imported from sugar-growing regions such as the Caribbean and Brazil, was refined into white sugar. The earliest record to date appears to be 12th century in Jordan, though reference to a cone of sugar is found in al-Zubayr ibn Bakkar's 9th century Arabic 'Al-Akhbar al-Muwaffaqiyyat'. In Europe, the sugar loaves were made in Italy from 1470, Belgium 1508, England 1544, Holland 1566, Germany 1573 and France 1613. When refining from sugar beet began in mainland Europe in 1799, loaves were produced in the same way. Until the mid-19th century, the British government used a system of punitive taxes to make it impossible for its colonial producers in the Caribbean to refine their own sugar and supply Britain with finished sugarloaves. Previously the Amsterdam industry had been similarly protected from the importation of East India white sugar. Instead, a dark raw sugar or muscovado, produced on the plantations by an initial boiling of the fresh cane juice, and shipped in hogsheads to Europe on what was the third leg of the Triangular Trade. As a final side note; the famous Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is said to refer its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11325

Davidson.   Alan (Editor)     - A unique set signed by Alan Davidson
Petits Propos Culinaires
Journals 1-73.
5 clamshell cases - each approx. 210x150x95mm. Each case in half bottle green morocco with green cloth covering. The spine with raised bands, gilt lines and a red morocco gilt lettered label. Each case with a light fawn felt cloth base. The cases are numbered; 1-15, 16-31, 32-48, 49-63, 64-73. Journal #1 is #345 of the first limited edition of 500. Numbers 1-59 and 61-63 are all signed by Alan Davidson. Number 60 is un-signed. Journals 63-73 are all signed by Tom Jaine. In journal #5, there is a letter of apology to Hugo Dunn-Meynell, for a printing mistake by A.D. in an article on Turabi Effendi. The letter is also signed by A.D. In journal #32 there is a page from Kidder's cookbook. In #49 there is a signed compliment slip signed by A.D, and two signed letters from Jenny Macarthur. All the journals as new. A very handsome set.
- Described by the editor Alan Davidson as 'a semi-academic periodical which comes out three times a year and deals with food, cookery and cookery books. Issues run approximately 64 to 72 pages, none occupied by advertisements, and contributors are a mixture of professional writers and amateurs. All issues are illustrated in black and white (reproductions of old engravings and woodcuts, etc.), plus drawings commissioned for PPC. PPC is not a collection of recipes, although most issues contain some of particular interest. These recipes have often been embodied in articles, e.g. by the late Elizabeth David and Richard Olney, both of whom played an important part in founding PPC. Extensive Book Reviews and an item called Notes and Queries are also regular features. The latter provides a forum for reports on research in progress and for posing questions which readers may be able to answer. This set on offer here are in a 'just published' condition. On the inside cover of journal # 1 is a typewritten note that has been tipped in. It states: "You may like to know that a new journal dealing with food, cookery and cookery books has been launched under the above title. The publishers are Prospect Books, a partnership including Elizabeth David, Alan and Jane Davidson, Jillian Norman and Richard Olney. The first edition was a limited edition of 500 copies, published in aid of the Anglo-American Jubilee Appeal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. ---- The first issue sold out quickly. The second issue will appear in August. It will also be in aid of charity". It is quite possible that this lot of journals are unique. A.D. told me he had not signed a full set before with the exception of number 60 which is unsigned. This is because the full printed lot of #60 were destroyed in a fire. I was only able to obtain a published copy after A.D. passed away. Number 63 has a written dedication from Alan Davidson. It reads: "I have great pleasure in signing this, the last issue of PPC for which I and my wife were responsible, -- for Robert Hendry, who has been such a good friend to the journal. Alan Davidson". Journals 73 and onwards have been edited & published by Tom Jaine of Prospect Books, Totnes, Devon and they are also signed by him. A wonderful source of all kinds of gastronomic information and research by many enthusiasts and leading culinary writers of the day.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11088

Davidson.   Alan (Editor)     Very rare set signed by Alan Davidson & Elizabeth David.
Petits Propos Culinaires.
Journals 1 - 9. And Alan Davidson's 47 page Funeral booklet of essays and recipes.
Approx, 9 x 188 x 134 mm. All booklets as new. Also has the supplement to # 3. Housed in a red cloth covered slipcase with two black labels with gilt text and tooling. Also a fine mint copy of Alan Davidson's Funeral Cookbook. Consisting of 47 pages, and handed out to attendees at his Memorial Service, Chelsea Old Church, London, 19th February, 2004.
- Petits Propos Culinaires [PPC] was launched February 1979. It was described by the editor Alan Davidson [AD] as a semi-academic triannual periodical dealing with all things gastronomic. The initial partners with Elizabeth David [ED] and AD. were eight others. These nine booklets have the signatures of AD and ED. The first issued booklet is a limited edition of 100, of which this one is # 24. As well as being signed by AD. there is also an inscription "For the McKirdys with many thanks for their highly effective sales promotion". Mike and Tessa McKirdy were dealers of books on cookery and gastronomy. They also published much appreciated and anticipated regular catalogues. From AD's inscription we can see that the McKirdys had promoted the PPC publications. These nine booklets have originally come from the McKirdy's collection. Booklets 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 have signed complimentary slips by AD. inserted for Mike and Tessa. From one of the slips we see the McKirdys had a regular package of twenty of each of the published booklets to sell in their catalogue. Booklet 3 is signed by Elizabeth David [ED] on page nine over an essay titled 'The Harvest of Cold Months'. This was a preview of ED's large book of the same name first published 1994. Booklets 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are also signed by ED. This set is very unique as I have another set of PPCs (see item # 11088 on this site) and none of them are signed by ED. but are all signed by AD. PPC is a wonderful source of information, essays, notes and bibliographical details by many famous expert contributors, on all the ages of cookery, gastronomy and the authors. Also included is a copy of AD's Funeral Cookbook. A booklet of essays and recipes composed by Davidson as a memento to be handed out to those attending his Memorial Service, Chelsea Old Church, London, 19th February, 2004. The cover depicts the design of the label for the marmalade Alan made every year from his family’s recipe. There is one illustration by Glen Baxter. Davidson came across the idea of the funeral cookbook custom in Thailand, where a person composes a small cookbook before her or his death so that it can be distributed to mourners attending the funeral. Davidson's version starts with a short essay on this subject, followed by recipes for marmalade, Greek chicken and fish, epicure's kidneys, fricased skate, Con's mince, toad in the hole, waterzooi, meat loaf, smothered cabbage, aubergine gratin, fried zucchini, Tabitha Tickletooth's bread and butter pudding, apple crumble tart, trifle, fluffy tapioca pudding, Susan's grape dessert (all these collected from a variety of sources). From a personal point of interest, this very unique set had a immediate impact on me when I found it, not only because of Elizabeth David and Alan Davidson, both of whom I greatly admired, but that of Mike McKirdy whom I considered a friend and now sadly has passed on as well. A treasured item.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11282

Dods.   Matilda Lees     - A beautilful miniature with a rare silver cover
Handbook of Practical Cookery
New and enlarged edition In which special prominence is given to the preparing of New Cakes, Jellies, etc; to the very simple recipes for Cottage Cookery; also to various modes of preparing food for the Sickroom BY MATILDA LEES DODOS Diplomee of the S.K. School of Cookery With an Introduction on the Philosophy of Cookery London: EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE (BIBLE WAREHOUSE). Ltd., 33, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. Edinburgh and New York 1906
44 x 54mms. Marbled front paste-down and fep. Half-title. [1] Title Page. [1] Preface v-xii. Contents xiii-xiv. [1] p34. Diagrams of Meat cuts (with the engraving on the recto with the versos blank) [1] p51 Plates of made dishes with blank versos. [1] xvii-Ixix Directions for Carving and Philosophy of Cooking. [1] Pp 1+2-795. [1] 1+798-836. [1] Marbled fep and paste-down. All pages and text on very fine India paper. Full black morocco binding with blind tooled lines to edges of boards. Fine crisp gilt lettering and tooling on spine. Deluxe edition with exquisite tooled silver cover and hallmarks. Fine gilt to edges of text block. A pristine and uniquely rare item.
- The first edition of Lees Dods's work appeared in 1881. This miniature edition is particularly charming with its silver cover displaying exquisite, embossed intricate tooling, denoting "Cookery Recipes" Louis Bondy in his fascinating book on the history of miniatures describes this as "the most extensive cookery book in miniature" (Louis Bondy, Miniature Books. p.139)

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11043

Dods.      
RE-USE


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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11044

Dods.   Matilda Lees     - An original copy with silver cover.
Handbook of Practical Cookery
New and enlarged edition In which special prominence is given to the preparing of New Cakes, Jellies, etc; to the very simple recipes for Cottage Cookery; also to various modes of preparing food for the Sickroom BY MATILDA LEES DODOS Diplomee of the S.K. School of Cookery With an Introduction on the Philosophy of Cookery London: EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE (BIBLE WAREHOUSE). Ltd., 33, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. Edinburgh and New York 1906
44 x 54 mm. Marbled front paste-down but no fep. Half-title. [1] Title Page. [1] Preface v-xii. Contents xiii-xiv. [1] p34. Diagrams of Meat cuts (with the engraving on the recto with the versos blank) [1] p51 Plates of made dishes with blank versos. [1] xvii-Ixix Directions for Carving and Philosophy of Cooking. [1] Pp 1+2-795. [1] 1+798-836. [1] Marbled fep and paste-down. The stitching in the text block is split in the middle but holding well and not affecting the spine. The spine has a small split on the bottom left seam but holding and not affecting anything. All pages and text on very fine India paper. Original full red cloth covered in bright gilt lines, design and lettering. With a small dark stain on the back covers, but not detracting. The front cover has a beautiful silver cover attached of a old fashioned camp cooking pot hung from a tripod over an open fire. Very slightly rubbed edges to covers and ends of spine. Overall a very nice bright copy with the fine very scarce silver front cover .
- Copies in this bright red cover are much scarcer than the others bound in maroon and black. There are also copies bound in light emerald green that are also very rare. The first edition of Lees Dods's work appeared in 1881. All copies of this miniature edition are charming and this one has a rare original red cover. Louis Bondy in his fascinating book on the history of miniatures describes this as "the most extensive cookery book in miniature" (Louis Bondy, Miniature Books. p.139) The red cover is very scarce but with the finely crafted embossed cover attached it becomes altogether very rare and collectable.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11119

Escoffier .   Georges Auguste     very rare.
La Morue.
A. ESCOFFIER LA VIE A BON MARCHE La morue 82 recettes -- pour -- l'accommoder ERNEST FLAMMARION, EDITEUR 26, RUE RACINE, PARIS. [2] A. ESCOFFIER Le riz L'ALIMENT LE MEILLEUR, LE PLUS NUTRIF 130 recettes -- pour -- l'accommoder ERNEST FLAMMARION, EDITEUR 26, RUE RACINE, PARIS.
FIRST EDITION. 1929. In original Yellow cover with red writing. The front cover with the same exact text as the title page. 1fep. [1] V1-V11 [1] [1] 10-67. p2. Advertisements. Nice clean condition, very slightly age browned throughout. 3 pages plus the inside cover with advertisements. The back cover advertising 4 of Escoffier's books with prices.
- Escoffier was a prolific writer publishing many Culinary gems over a long distinguished career as the most famous Chef in the world. La Morue is among the last of his ten major works, which he published at the grand ages of 80. It is also a very rare item, due in part to its delicate assembly causing it's lack of appearance in major collections or auctions.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 11255

Escoffier.   Georges Auguste     - A beautiful copy bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe
A Guide To Modern Cookery
BY A. ESCOFFIER OF THE CARLTON HOTEL LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1907. Inserted inside --- a 4 page promotional pamphlet for: ESCOFFIER LIMITED. Wholesale Department:- RIDGEMONT STREET. (Off Shore Street) TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD, LONDON, WC. Inside it tells us: ESCOFFIER PREPARATIONS. Manufactured under the Supervision of MONS. ESCOFFIER. of the Carlton Hotel. London. With lists of all Escoffier items and prices.
FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. Royal Octavo. Marbled paste-down back and front with marbled endpapers. 1fep. Half title. [1] Frontispiece of 'Escoffier'. Title Page. [1] 1+v-x Preface. 1+xii Contents. 1+xiv-xvi Glossary. 1+2-880. 1fep. Beautifully bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe in full green morocco. Beautiful gilt tooling to edges and spine with gilt motif of crossed knifes and forks and sand timers on corners of the boards. A red goatskin label with gilt lettering. All page edges gilt. Housed for protection in a sympathetic green buckram and morocco covered slip case. Internally - as new.
- This is the second copy of 'A Guide to Modern Cookery' 1907, I have seen with the promotional pamphlet tucked inside. It is quite possible that Escoffier had this nicely designed, four page price list inserted in every copy of 'A Guide to Modern Cookery'. Escoffier (1846-1935) was a great innovator, as can be seen by the large range of sauces, soups, pickles, consomme, vinegars etc (even the famous Sauce Melba) featured in the pamphlet. Probably the most lasting but least known food item that he developed and started producing on a large commercial scale, was tinned tomatoes. He is credited, in their excellent biography of Escoffier by Eugene Herbodeau and Paul Thalamas, of first producing 2000 x 2 kilo tins in Saxon-les-Bains for the Savoy Hotel, while he was Chef de Cuisine. The fame of the product grew so fast that the following year, the food manufacturer, La Maison Caressa of Nice produced 60.000 kilos under his direction. This book is in exceptional condition and with the enclosed Escoffier pamphlet which in itself is a rare piece of ephemera, makes this item very desirable.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 10928

Escoffier.   Georges Auguste     - A signed copy with items of ephemera.
A Guide To Modern Cookery
BY A. ESCOFFIER OF THE CARLTON HOTEL WITH PORTRAIT NEW AND REVISED EDITION LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1916.
Fourth impression of the fist English edition of 1907. 3 feps (1fep with 2 b/w photos of cakes and the signature in ink of Manuel Paget). Half title with Escoffier's signature in pencil - "A. Escoffier Avril 1917". [2] Frontispiece of 'Escoffier'. Title Page with tissue guard. [1] (1)vi-x Preface. (1)xii Contents. (1)xiv-xvi Glossary. (1)2-848. (1)Index half-title. [1] 312-891 Index. [1] 2feps. Bound in modern mid-brown half calf with brown cloth boards and calf corners. Spine with raised bands and gilt lines, tooling and lettering. Very good condition throughout. All edges green. A signed copy with a copy of a letter written by Escoffier and a postcard with an illustration of him.
- This copy of 'A Guide To Modern Cookery' has two very nice contemporary black and white photographs pasted-in the page before the half-title. One is of a beautiful christening cake with pulled sugar flowers and decorated chocolate run-outs, the other a wedding croquembouche with the same style of sugar flowers and chocolate work. Both cakes probably the work of the same Patissier. Above the photographs is the signature of 'Manual Paget'. Having done some research into Manual Paget with no positive results, one can possibly assume that he may have been the Patissier responsible for the cakes he pasted in to the book he'd had signed and dated by Escoffier; on Avril 1917. Escoffier was Maitre Chef de Cuisine at the Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall, London. His tenure there lasted 20 years - 1899-1919.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 10931

Escoffier.   Georges Auguste     - Escoffier's first book; 'Wax Flowers'
Les Fleurs en Cire
A. ESCOFFIER LES FLEURS EN CIRE (An elaborate printers floral device) BIBLIOTHEQUE DE L'ART CULINAIRE 4 Place Saint-Michel, - PARIS MDCCCCX Nouvelle Edition
Fourth Edition, Paris, 1910. 188x141mm. 1fep. Half-Title. On verso Headpiece & printer's details for all editions. [1] Frontispiece. Title page on thick photographer's card and tissue guard. [1] (1)10-92. 3p Index. [1] 1fep. Original publisher's printed cover, in good condition. Internally very clean. Illustrations: Halftone frontispiece portrait of Escoffier and halftone illustrations titled "Fleurs de Magnolia en Cire" and 40 photo engraved illustrations in the text. A very nice untrimmed copy with many uncut pages. With the bookplate of the very famous Swedish chef and author, Tore Wretman. A very scarce and sought after book.
- It was originally published under the title 'Traite sur l'Art de Travailler les Fleurs en Cire' Paris, 1884. During this period Escoffier married Delphine Daffis, the daughter of a publisher. Writing poetry herself, she contributed to this, his first publication. Escoffier was a major writer of culinary classics and is still consulted as an authority. Besides the 1884 edition of - Le Traite sur L'art de Travailler les Fleurs en Cire, his other best known writings are --- 1903 - Le Guide Culinaire; 1907 - A Guide to Modern Cookery, 1st english edition; 1910 - Les Fleurs en Cire, a new edition; 1911 - Le Carnet d'Epicure; 1912 - Le Livre des Menus; 1919 - L'Aide-Memoire Culiniare; 1927 - Le Riz; 1929 - La Morue; 1934 - Ma Cuisine.

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Information

Modern category
ref number: 10976