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Dali. Salvador With a fine surreal lithograph of a peach, signed by Dali in pencil.
les diners de Gala
translated by Captain J. Peter Moore FELICIE, INC.- PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK
1st EDITION. 1973. Thick 4to. 350 x 220 x 35 mm. Inside cover and first page with Illustration of bread and signed by an indistinctly named husband to his wife. [2] Frontis of Dali. Title Page. 8 - 316. 317 - 321 Table of Contents. [1] A dedication page for the origins of the book's recipes. 1 fep and inside end cover with a fantastic illustration of 4 nude women dining. Hardcover with bright gold, foil-like wildly illustrated dust jacket. Overall, exceptionally fine condition. Also inserted inside is a fine lithograph of an apple and leaves in colour. Being a Dali creation, it is not just an apple, but has a quickly done line drawing of a guitarist in a landscape. Numbered 181/250. With Dali's distinct signature in pencil.
- This production by the great Spanish Surrealist painter Salvador Dali, has to be defined as one of the most interesting and unusual cookery books ever published, with recipes by the Chefs of famous Paris restaurants, such as Lasserre, La Tour d’Argent, Maxim’s, and Le Train Bleu (Le Buffet de la Gare de Lyon). The chapters are as follows: 1 Les caprices pincés princiers exotic dishes: 2 Les cannibalismes de l'automne eggs - sea food: 3 Les suprêmes de malaises lilliputiens first course: 4 Les entre-plats sodomisés meals: 5 Les spoutniks astiqués d'asticots statistiques snails - frogs: 6 Les panaches panachés fish - shell fish: 7 Les chairs monarchiques game - poultry: 8 Les montres molles 1/2 sommeil pork: 9 L'atavisme désoxyribonucléique vegetables: 10 Les "je mange GALA" aphrodisiacs: 11 Les pios nonoches sweets - dessert: 12 Les délices petits matryrs hors-d'œuvre: It is also an outstanding art book that not only has very good recipes, but is a wonder to read. Dali also notes in the introduction that his book is not designed for anyone watching their waistline. Born on 11 May 1904, at 8:45 am GMT in Figueres, Catalonia, Salvador Dalí was a skilled artist and draftsman best known for the striking and bizarre images in his work. His painting skills are often attributed to the influence and fine finishing of Renaissance masters. His best-known work, The 'Persistence of Memory', was completed in August 1931, and is one of the most recognisable Surrealist paintings. Dalí's expansive artistic repertoire included film, sculpture, and photography, at times in collaboration with a range of artists in a variety of media. This book of cookery is an unusual addition to his norm. Dalí was highly imaginative, and also enjoyed indulging in unusual and grandiose behaviour. To the dismay of those who held his work in high regard, and to the irritation of his critics, his eccentric manner and attention-grabbing public actions sometimes drew more attention than his artwork. Dalí attended drawing school. In 1916, he also discovered modern painting on a summer vacation trip to Cadaqués with the family of Ramon Pichot, a local artist who made regular trips to Paris. The next year, Dalí's father organized an exhibition of his son's charcoal drawings in their family home. He had his first public exhibition at the Municipal Theatre in Figueres in 1918. In early 1921 the Pichot family introduced Dalí to Futurism and Dalí's uncle Anselm Domenech, who owned a bookshop in Barcelona, supplied him with books and magazines on Cubism and contemporary art. On 6 February 1921, Dalí's mother died of uterine cancer. Dalí was 16 years old; he later said his mother's death "was the greatest blow I had experienced in my life. I worshipped her... I could not resign myself to the loss of a being on whom I counted to make invisible the unavoidable blemishes of my soul. After her death, Dalí's father married his deceased wife's sister. Dalí did not resent this marriage, because he had great love and respect for his aunt. In 1929, Dalí collaborated with the surrealist film director Luis Buñuel on the short film 'Un Chien Andalou' (An Andalusian Dog). His main contribution was to help Buñuel write the script for the film. Dalí later claimed to have also played a significant role in the filming of the project, but this is not substantiated by contemporary accounts. Also, in August 1929, Dalí met his lifelong and primary muse and future wife Gala, born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova. She was a Russian immigrant ten years his senior, who at that time was married to surrealist poet Paul Éluard. In the same year, Dalí officially joined the Surrealist group in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris. The Surrealists hailed what Dalí called his paranoiac-critical method of accessing the subconscious for greater artistic creativity. Gala first met Dalí that year during a trip to Cadaques with her family and the artist Magritte and his wife. Despite the ten-year age gap, the love affair between Dalí and Gala quickly developed. In 1948 Dalí and Gala moved back into their house in Port Lligat, on the coast near Cadaqués. For the next three decades, he would spend most of his time there painting, taking time off and spending winters with his wife in Paris and New York. Gala died on 10 June 1982, at the age of 87. After Gala's death, Dalí lost much of his will to live. He deliberately dehydrated himself. On the morning of 23 January 1989, while his favourite record of Tristan and Isolde played, Dalí died of heart failure at the age of 84. He is buried in the crypt below the stage of his Theatre and Museum in Figueres. The location is across the street from the church of Sant Pere, where he had his baptism, first communion, and funeral, and is only 450 metres from the house where he was born. An amazing unparalleled life. This book and lithograph, a fantastic insight and glimpse of the great artist. Only around 400 copies of Les Diners de Gala are known to survive. However, Taschen has finally published and made this rare book available for the first time in 43 years as a new reprinted 2nd edition.

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Modern category

ref number: 11252

Elyot. Kt. Sir Thomas - It had a big effect on cooks . Rare.
The Castle of Health,
Corrected, and in some places Augmented by the first authour thereof, Sir Thomas Elyot [Knight]. NOW NEWLIE PERused, amended, and corrected, this present year 1610. - A publisher's stamp - LONDON, Printed for the Company of Stationers, 1610.
139 x 178 x 15 mm. 1fep. Title page. [1] 5 pages A Proheme of Sir Thomas Elyot. Verso blank. 4 pages A Table. The First Book 13 - 22. The Second Book 22 - 80. The Third Book 80 - 112. The Fourth Book 112 - 140. 1fep. The title page quite browned and with a stain. A stain running from the title page to page 30, although not affecting text. Cropped at the top of the block with capital page headings in all pages slightly cropped but mostly still readable. A modern full brown calf binding with nicely and sympathetically blind-stamped boards. Spine with blind stamped raised bands and title in gilt.
- Thomas Elyot was the child of Sir Richard Elyot's first marriage with Alice De la Mare, but neither the date nor place of his birth is accurately known. It was claimed Elyot was an alumnus of St Mary Hall, Oxford, while the 'Athenae Cantabrigienses' put in a claim for Jesus College, Cambridge. Elyot himself says in the preface to his Dictionary that he was educated under the paternal roof, and was from the age of twelve his own tutor. In 1511 he accompanied his father on the western circuit as clerk to the assize, and he held this position until 1528. In addition to his father's lands in Wiltshire and Oxfordshire he inherited in 1523 the Cambridge estates of his cousin, Thomas Fynderne. His title was disputed, but Cardinal Wolsey decided in his favour, and also made him clerk of the Privy Council. Elyot, in a letter addressed to Thomas Cromwell, says that he never received the emoluments of this office, while the empty honour of knighthood conferred on him when he was displaced in 1530 merely put him to further expense. In that year he sat on the commission appointed to inquire into the Cambridgeshire estates of his former patron, Wolsey. He was in 1527 appointed High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In 1531 he received instructions to proceed to the court of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, to try to persuade him to take a more favourable view of Henry V111's proposed divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, the emperor's aunt. As ambassador Elyot was involved in ruinous expense, and on his return he wrote unsuccessfully to Cromwell begging to be excused, on the grounds of his poverty, from serving as High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire for 1532. He was one of the commissioners in the inquiry instituted by Cromwell prior to the suppression of the monasteries but he did not obtain any share of the spoils. There is little doubt that his known friendship for Thomas More militated against his chances of success, for in a letter addressed to Cromwell he admitted his friendship for More, but protested that he rated higher his duty to the king. From 1539 to 1542 he represented the borough of Cambridge in parliament. He had purchased from Cromwell the manor of Carleton in Cambridgeshire, where he eventually died. Elyot received little reward for his services to the state, but his scholarship and his books were held in high esteem by his contemporaries. As a prose writer, Elyot enriched the English language with many new words. In 1536 he published the first edition of 'The Castell of Health', which was a popular treatise on medicine, intended to place a scientific knowledge of the art within the reach of those unacquainted with Greek. This work, though scoffed at by the faculty, was appreciated by the general public, and speedily went through seventeen editions. These writings and knowledge of the time had a large effect on cooks as well. We see that the cookery books of the next century were much more developed and numerous. The hunger and need for people to improve the quality of life and health always pushes the need for pragmatic solutions. In the first half of the next century we see cookery books with 50% cookery and 50% medical advice side by side. This practice started to die out in the later part of the century where medical books stood alone next to books only with cookery recipes and advice. Besides this edition of 1610, some of the other books on Health in the same century by other authors are ; 'The Garden of Health' by William Langham 1633. 'The Haven of Health' by Thomas Cogham 1636. 'Regimen Sanitatis Salerni' Anon. 1649. 'Via Recta Ad Vitam Longam' by Thos. Venner 1650. 'The Rules of Health and Food' by Thomas Moffat 1655. 'The Way to Health' by Thomas Tryon 1691.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11253

ANON. The complete set together; Very rare.
A Set of twelve cookery book miniatures.
Each title page the same. THE LITTLE BOOK ------. a small square printer's device. GEORGE NEWNES LTD. Southampton St., Strand. London W.C. With a double red line border.
A SOLE EDITION. Circa 1912. Each book: 90 x 60mm. 1. Book of Jellies, Creams & Ices. 2. Book of Household Hints. 3. Book of French Cookery. 4. Book of Pastry and Cakelets. 5. Book of Book of Confectionery. 6. Book of Jewish Cookery. 7. Book of Preserves and Pickles. 8. Book of Puddings. 9. Book of Simple Remedies. 10. Book of Sandwiches and Beverages. 11. Book of Salads and Savouries. 12. Book of Etiquette. Each book covered in an original colourful fine cloth, with a couple slightly rubbed at the edges of the spines. All books internally very clean. A fine set. All housed in a purpose made clam-shell box.
- Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet (see image #1. below) (13 March 1851 – 9 June 1910) was an English publisher and editor and a founding father of popular journalism. His company, George Newnes Ltd, continued publishing ground-breaking consumer magazines such as Nova long after his demise. Decades after the proprietor's death, George Newnes Ltd continued into the 1960s as one of London's four leading magazine publishers – along with Odhams Press Ltd, C. Arthur Pearson and the Hulton Press – producing a diverse range of titles from Lady's Companion, Woman’s Own, Nova, Rave and Flair, to Practical Mechanics and Practical Television. In 1963, the company became part of the International Publishing Corporation. Today books under the Newnes imprint continue to be published by Elsevier.

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Modern category

ref number: 11254

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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Modern category

ref number: 11255

WILLIAMS, MBE. JOHN A beautifully designed book, signed by the author.
The Ritz London - The Cookbook
The Ritz Emblem - John Williams, MBE with James Steen Photographed by John Carey - Mitchell Beazely
FIRST EDITION. 2018. Large 4to. 350 x 223 x 25mm. 1fep. 1 page half-title, signed to "Bobby Hendry I hope you enjoy the book. The Evolution of Escoffier's Cuisine. Happy Cooking John Williams". Verso with legal production details. Title page. 2 pages Contents. 6-9 Introduction from John Williams with a beautiful image of a painting of John Williams. (see below) 10-11 Through the revolving door. 1 page photograph of a dish of Quails Eggs. 13-227. 228-231 Basic Recipes and Cooking Notes. 232-223 Pictures of the kitchen and dining room brigades. 234-235 A beautiful 2 page of the dining room and kitchen brigades. 236-238 Index. 239 Glossary of Terms. 240 Compliments of the Chef & About John Williams. 1fep. A sumptuous dark navy cover with embossed silver text. The front cover has the embossed Ritz Emblem. The text block as new. The edges silver. With a thin dark blue cloth bookmark. The whole in excellent condition.
- This is one of the most handsome cookery books I've seen. It is also very unique, as its a book about and representing a very famous hotel written entirely from the Chef's perspective. Encompassing the recipes, the Hotel, the guests, dining areas. the teams and the history conveyed by John William's, whose passion oozes from the pages. One thing not generally understood by people outside the catering trade, but understood well by chefs is the difference between great hotels and great restaurants. In the restaurant the customer comes to wine and dine well, then departs before the restaurant closes. The hotel has the guests staying in-house, with all meals, room service, housekeeping, catering outlets etc that are all required every day. This creates a very different emphasis especially for the upper management. Whereas in a restaurant the focus is on wine, food and ambience. The Ritz hotel requires a 24/7 operation every day of the year. With 111 rooms and 25 suites, its Restaurant, Banqueting rooms, the Palm Court and it's famous afternoon teas, Room service, the spectrum of such varied and differing venue needs, requires a much wider approach. Chef John Williams has also helped create a fine restaurant at the Ritz, gaining its first Michelin star in 2016. At the same time, his overview of the culinary needs of the whole hotel is just as paramount, with a standard that must not drop. His whole catering background is entirely that of great Hotels, his experience very broad and his knowledge very detailed. As a cook he has found his spiritual home in the Ritz. He is a great student and admirer of Auguste Escoffier and what Escoffier's impact has been on all cooks since then. In his own words; "We would not be where we are now as chefs, had it not been for Escoffier". The Hotel was opened in 1906 by Cesar Ritz the great friend and compatriot of Escoffier who was at that time Chef de Cuisine one mile away at the Carlton Hotel Pall Mall. Escoffier and Ritz collaborated in the opening of both Ritz hotels in Paris as well as London. John Williams is very aware that he carries the legacy of those two great hoteliers, and is more than willing to rise to the challenge. Possibly helping to surpass it. One thing in the book that makes me believe this, is Williams's own story on the last page about Mr Shannon at Claridge's Hotel. This story is in the full spirit of Ritz and Escoffier, both of whom had the complete welfare and well-being of their guests as their highest priority. The book also impresses with the beautiful colour plates and recipes. I have picked one to show below in photographs 4 and 5 that possibly conveys everything about the Ritz and its history. Canard à la presse is a traditional French dish considered the height of culinary elegance. Originally a specialty of Rouen. The Rouen or Rhone ducks are large and have great flavour. It has also gained fame as a specialty of La Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris. It consists of various parts of a roasted duck served in a sauce of its blood and bone marrow, which is extracted by way of the press seen in the photograph. The book shows all the other great dishes that The Ritz Hotel London is rightly famous for. Chef John Williams's mastery shines from every page, and is a professional testament to a life of cooking, learning, passion and achievement.

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Modern category

ref number: 11256

ANON.
Claridge's Cookbook.
The Claridge's emblem. CLARIDGE'S THE COOKBOOK MARTYN NAIL & MEREDITH ERIKSON WITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN CAREY - MITCHELL BEAZLEY
4to. 1fep. Half-title. Frontispiece of the main spiral staircase. Title Page. Verso - Picture of the hotel entrance. 1p Contents. 6p Forward by Rene Redzepi from Copenhagen's Noma. 1p Photograph of Redzepi. [1] 9-10 Introduction. Picture of Martyn Nail Executive Chef. 12-13 A brief history of Claridge's. 2p of Claridge's Ephemera. 16p Claridge's by Numbers. p2 Photographs. (1)Breakfast 20-250. [3] 254-257 Index and Cookery Notes. 258 Acknowledgements. 259 Glossary. (1)Dedication. 1fep. Covers and spine in light green paper. With a thin black cloth bookmarker. In mint condition. As new.
- Claridge's was founded in 1812 as Mivart's Hotel, in a conventional London terraced house, and it grew by expanding into neighbouring houses. In 1854, the founder sold the hotel to a Mr and Mrs Claridge, who owned a smaller hotel next door. They combined the two operations, and after trading for a time as "Mivart's at Claridge's", they settled on the current name. The reputation of the hotel was confirmed in 1860 when Empress Eugenie made an extended visit and entertained Queen Victoria at the hotel. In its first edition of 1878, Baedeker's London listed Claridge's as the first hotel in London Richard D'Oyly Carte, the theatrical impresario and founder of the rival Savoy Hotel, purchased Claridge's in 1894, as part of The Savoy Group, and shortly afterwards demolished the old buildings and replaced them with the present ones. This was prompted by the need to install modern facilities such as lifts and en-suite bathrooms. From 1894 to 1901, Édouard Nignon was the hotel chef. He had lived in Austria and Russia, where he served the highest dignitaries, including the emperors Nicholas II of Russia and Franz Joseph I of Austria. His experience in those huge Royal households being the major factor in his employment, as well as his reputation for fastidious craftmanship in his cookery. The new Claridge's, has 203 rooms and suites and around 400 staff. After the First World War, Claridge's flourished due to demand from aristocrats who no longer maintained a London house, and under the leadership of Carte's son, Rupert D'Oyly Carte, an extension was built in the 1920s. During the Second World War it was the base of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia's forces in exile and home of Peter II of Yugoslavia. He and his wife spent much of the Second World War in exile at Claridge's, and suite 212 was supposedly ceded by the United Kingdom to Yugoslavia for a single day (17 July 1945) to allow their heir, Crown Prince Alexander, to be born on Yugoslav soil. Along with Royalty, leaders in fashion and finance and Hollywood stars also adopted Claridge's as their London residence. Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Yul Brynner and Bing Crosby are all guests. Spencer Tracy says he'd rather go to Claridge's than to heaven when he dies. In 1996, Claridge’s enjoyed a restoration led by designer Thierry Despont. He created Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, The Foyer, The Reading Room and The Fumoir. In 1999, designer David Collins transformed the Causerie into Claridge’s Bar, with a brief to slip quietly into the new millennium while keeping a firm hold on the last one. In 2014 'Fera at Claridge's' opens under the Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan. He stayed three years, gained a Michelin star, but the restaurant closed December 31st 2018. The interior of the restaurant, created by widely acclaimed British designer Guy Oliver, reflected the creative and natural style of the cuisine, as well as Claridge's art deco architectural heritage. The new owners of Claridges, the Maybourne Hotel Group opened Claridge’s new restaurant 'Davies and Brook' in 2019 under the acclaimed Chef Daniel Humm. He is the second part of the team consisting also of Will Guidara, who together presided over the three-Michelin-starred restaurant 'Eleven Madison Park' in Manhattan. Continuing the quite varied stages of this great Hotel's history and a well-wished-for future.

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Modern category

ref number: 11257

Copley. Esther
THE COOK'S COMPLETE GUIDE,
ON THE PRINCIPLES OF Frugality, Comfort, and Elegance INCLUDING THE ART OF CARVING, AND THE MOST APPROVED METHOD OF SETTING OUT A TABLE EXPLAINED BY NUMEROUS COPPER-PLATE ENGRAVINGS, INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESERVING HEALTH, AND ATTAINING OLD AGE; WITH DIRECTIONS FOR BREEDING AND FATTENING ALL SORTS OF POULTRY, AND FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES, RABBITS, PIGS &c. &c. RULES FOR CULTIVATING A GARDEN, AND NUMEROUS USEFUL MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS. a line. BY A LADY, AUTHORESS OF "COTTAGE COMFORTS" a line. London: GEORGE VIRTUE, 26, IVY LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW.
FIRST EDITION. n/d Circa 1827. Thick 8vo. 222 x 148 x 50mm. 2 feps. 1p with ink Inscription from an aunt dated 1843. Frontispiece of a lady displaying meat, fish and vegetables. An first elaborate Title Page (The New London Cookery by a Lady). [1] Title Page. [1] 2p Contents. (1)-iv Preface. (3)4 - 812. 813 Addenda. (1)815 - 838 Index. 1fep. 5 Engraved plates in Text. Title page slightly age browned. Both title pages with small smudge not affecting text. Text Block very clean. Nicely bound with 1/4 light tan calf. Spine with raised bands and gilt lines. Dark brown label with gilt lettering. Boards with marbled paper and tan calf corners. Overall well preserved.
- This is a very comprehensive thick book with a huge 38 page Index. It is one of the many thick books of the time, all produced with similar layouts and abundant details. When they are all seen together, one is struck by how Beeton's Household Management of 1861, although some-what similar to the others, broke the mould with colour plates and better designed formatting. Hence its huge popularity. This book's title page proclaims the un-named Authoress (Esther Copley) to be the same as for the relatively small 'Cottage Comforts' (see item 10930 above). She also wrote one other small book titled 'Cottage Cookery' (see item 11016 below). Published and printed by Gorge Virtue this was a contracted work "by a Lady" that was subtly attributed to Copley to increase sales. We can be sure of this because the two "Cottage" books previously mentioned are clearly declared on the title pages as written by her. I'm sure she would wish the attribution of this book to her was also stated just as clearly.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11258

Plat - Kt. Sir Hugh A very scrace book.
THE JEVVEL HOUSE.
OF Art and Nature: Containing Divers Rare and Profitable Inven-tions, together with sundry new Experiments in the Art of Husbandry. WITH Divers Chymical Conclusions concerning the Art of Distillation, and the rare practices and uses thereof. Faithfully and faniliarly set down, according to the Authors own Experience. (a single top line) By Sir Hugh Plat of Lincolns-Inne, Knight. (a single bottom line) Whereunto is added, A rare and excellent Discours of Minerals, Stones, Gems and Rosins: with the vertues and use thereof, By D. B. Gent. (a single line) LONDON: Printed By Elizabeth Alsop. and are to be sold at her house in Grubstreet, near the Upper Pump. 1653. All enclosed within thick ornate border.
Small quatro. 194 x 153 x 24mm. 3 feps with the small stamp of the Assay Office Library Birmingham. The Title page. 2p A dedication to the Honourable, Boulstroad Whitlock. 4p of The Table. 1-232. 3fep. Some illustrations in text. Title page aged with repairs, with repairs on the verso not effecting text. The next 3 leaves aged. Overall lightly age-browned but clear. Some good repairs has brought the book back to a desirable copy. Bound in quarter brown calf with a darker spine. With raised bands and gilt writing in 3 compartments. The boards covered in strong brown cloth with the tips in calf. Revised edition, expanded from its first appearance in 1594 under the same title, the second overall.
- Hugh Plat was born in the spring of 1552, and baptised at St. James's, Garlickhythe, on 3 May 1552. He was the third son and eldest surviving of Richard Plat or Platt (1528-1600), a London brewer who ran the Old Swan brewery in James Street, London. His father owned property in St Pancras, London, bequeathing much of it to the foundation and endowment of a free school and six alms-houses at Aldenham, Hertfordshire. He was buried on 28 November 1600. Hugh's mother, Alice, was daughter of John Birtles, of Birtles, Cheshire. Plat matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge, on 12 November 1568 and he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1572. Soon afterwards he became a member of Lincoln's Inn. He resided from 1594 at Bishop's Hall, Bethnal Green, later moving to the neighbouring Kirby's Castle. Both at Bethnal Green and in St Martin's Lane. he maintained gardens, where he conducted horticultural and agricultural experiments. For research, he often visited Sir Thomas Heneage's estate at Copt Hall, Essex, and other large properties. He learned metallurgy from blacksmiths, and worked with gardeners and farmers to gather information on horticulture and agriculture and foodstuffs. In consideration of his services as inventor, Plat was knighted by James I at Greenwich on 22 May 1605. In 1594 there appeared the first edition of 'The Jewell House of Art and Nature, dedicated to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. The volume consists of five tracts with separate title-pages, 1. Divers new Experiments. 2. 'Diverse new Sorts of Soyle not yet brought into any Publique Use. 3. 'Chimical Conclusions concerning the Art of Distillation. 4. 'Of Moulding, Casting Metals. 5.'An offer of certain New Inventions which the Author proposes to Disclose upon reasonable Considerations. This second revised and enlarged edition appeared in 1613, dedicated to Bulstrode Whitelocke, and prepared by 'D. B.' (i.e. Arnold de Boate), who added a sixth tract 'A Discourse on Minerals, Stones, Gums, and Rosins. The Royal Collection Trust has a 1653 copy acquired by Queen Victoria sometime before 1860. The way this text has been printed and published matches Plat's eclectic curiosity and research. Some of the solutions to problems astonish: we are informed on P 19, Turn 5 spits at once with one hand. Then on P 28, How to hold a hot iron bar in your hands without burning. On the next page 29, Sweet cakes made without sugar. Further on P 71, How to keep Oysters good 10-12 days. (without refrigeration. Did this solution create food poisoning in the ignorant.?) Then the same kind of query on P 72, How to keep Lobsters crayfish etc good for some days. Then the fantastical; on P 88, A wagon with illustration. To be drawn by men instead of horses. - Intended to appeal to an audience as diverse as its contents, the book contains advice useful to travellers, farmers, housewives, soldiers, cooks, merchants, apothecaries, builders, distillers, and brewers, or indeed anyone who had “either wit, or will, to apply them.” An interesting book that (ODNB) elevates to Platt's most significant work. It shows to a great extent the need for people to constantly improve their knowledge and circumstance. Making the leap from Plat's time to the present, one wonders if human's will ever find their true comfort-zone, or are we tied to a quest to always follow Plat's example of on-going restless research. ESTC R10675; Goldsmiths' 1294; Kress 889; Wing P2391.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11259

Mrs Nourse. An early Edinburgh cookery school. Rare.
MODERN PRACTICAL COOKERY,
PASTRY, CONFECTIONARY, PICKLING AND PRESERVING. (two small double lines) By MRS NOURSE, TEACHER OF THESE ARTS, EDINBURGH. (two small double lines) ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPERPLATES. FOURTH EDITION IMPROVED AND ENLARGED. (two small double lines) EDINBURGH printed by Michael Anderson. SOLD BY THE AUTHOR, 6, GEORGE STREET; MACREDIE SKELLY & CO; 34, PRINCESS STREET; BRASH & CO. GLASGOW; GEORGE COWIE & CO. LONDON; J. CUMMING, DUBLIN; AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. (one small line) 1821
Small octavo. 179 x 108 x 14mm. 2feps. [1] Frontis of trussing. Title page. [1] (1)iv Preface to the 2nd edition. (1)Advertisement to the 3rd Edition. (1)Advertisement to the 4th edition. (1)viii - xxiv Contents. (1)2 - 335. 3 plates of An Elegant Dinner with approx a sixth missing. 2feps. Internally a little smudged and age dusted. With a quarter brown calf and marbled boards and brown calf tips. The spine with raised bands, gilt tooling and lettering.
- In a fine article online by Eleanor Harris of the Episcopal Congregation of Charlotte Chapel website, she has written a quite detailed article about Mrs Nourse. She was born Elizabeth Burn to Walter Burn, a gardener in Hawick and Janet Ker. Her birth date not found. She married her husband John Nourse on November 18th, 1793 at Hawick. They had four children in quick succession from 1794,95,96 and 1797. Mrs Nourse practised her trade as a pastry-cook and confectioner in partnership with her husband until his death circa 1805. She then became proprietor of a New Town, Edinburgh pastry school. Due to encouragement from Pupils, Customers and friends, and to finance the publication she cannily opened a subscription book at her shop on 38 Princess St, to which a large number subscribed, and in 1809 she self-published the 1st edition of Modern Practical Cookery. In Eleanor Harris's article an unusual snippet records that in 1811 she was living in George St, in a house with 15 windows and a rent of £70 and received allowances for her children. Modern Practical Cookery was popular and reached its 3rd edition on 1813, with this improved and enlarged 4th edition of 1821. Another addition appeared in 1832. It also achieved wide commercial publication and distribution by William Blackwoods, and widely advertised and sold at Cadell's in the Strand, London. A Belfast edition also appeared around this time. It is not clear when she passed away but in1845 an edition was published by Armour and Ramsey of Montreal, Canada. This assured Mrs Norse posthumous fame, her curried chicken and rice soup appearing at heritage events at the Campbell House Museum, Toronto and the Culinary-Tourism Symposium. In writing this condensed version of Eleanor Harris's article I'm struck by Mrs Nourse's industriousness. She is of the same mould as other women cooks who also became cookery book writers like Hannah Glasse, Mary Kettilby, Eliza Smith, Mary Eales, Agnes Marshall, Elizabeth Moxon, Elizabeth Raffald et al, who extended themselves, because of sheer necessity, from the hot demanding kitchens to publishing. Full lives indeed, to our benefit. Oxford also had a 4th Ed. dated 1820. He states that Blackwoods published an edition in 1838, but could not trace any earlier editions. I have not seen any copies at auction going back to 1926. One must assume rarity.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11260

Anon.
A CENTURY OF PROGRESS.
1831 - 1931 CADBURY BOURNVILLE. By T. B. Rogers. Editor of the Bournvile Works Magazine.
Slim 4to. 254 x 192 x 9mm. 1fep. with a single Compliment sheet from Cadbury. Title page. On verso the Contents. A Forward, dated March 26th 1931. On verso a Photograph of Bournville Works, circa the early 30's. 5 - 87. p88. Bournville growth chart. (1) 1fep. Cardboard covers in Blue and Black. Back cover in white and black. Very clean. In fine condition. Also enclosed. ITEM 2. 10p Sales catalogue for Supex Ltd. of 222 Cork St. London. By Appointment to H.M. GEORGE V. Very clean.
- A very interesting hundred years of history celebrated, from the very humble beginnings of the mighty Cadbury chocolate company. Initially in 1831, the young Quaker, John Cadbury, started out as a tea and coffee dealer at 93 Bull Street, Birmingham, UK. He was the first to install plate-glass windows so that passers-by could see better, his display of Teas, Coffee and Cocoa Nibs. Inside, the counter was manned by a regal Chinaman in the full Chinese glory of his native costume. It seems John Cadbury had a full quota of sales and marketing instincts and skills early in his business life. The book charts the full rise of the company in wonderful detail with black and white and colour pictures and charts and drawings. There is a lot of sympathetic acknowledgement of all who worked and helped to grow the company. From a full page of 12 black and white photographs of the key pioneers of those early days to the last page, where in 1928 we see the visit to the factory of Sir Ofori Atta, Paramount Chief of the African Gold Coast province of Akim Abuaka, where cocoa was one of the main crops. There is also acknowledgement that the company was an important influence on the future sovereign state of Ghana. This beautiful company history book is a fine example of what it takes, and for how long, to build a large global brand. Fascinating.!

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Modern category

ref number: 11261