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Escoffier. Georges Auguste - A signed handwritten letter
Addressed to 'Cher Monsieur Cadier'
And signed 'A Escoffier' on Carlton Hotel Stationary.
A 2 page manuscript letter, addressed to Mons. Cadier. On headed paper from the Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall. London. Dated 16 Avril 1918, with the Hotel Crest. The letter was folded in eight with creases, with one line partly obscured but still readable. The whole has been sometime mounted on same coloured card. Also enclosed is a black and white formal group photograph of many of the famous chefs of the day. All contemporaries of Escoffier. They are celebrating some occasion that honors Monsieur Cadier. All the chefs have signed the photograph. Among those present are M. Eugene Herbodeau, one-time protege of Escoffier and also his literary executor, also Auguste Laplanche, Maitre Chef de Cuisine at the Savoy Hotel for many years. Marcel A. Percevault, Maitre Chef de Cuisine of Claridges from 1933-54 is part of the group. Enclosed in a neat marbled cardboard folder with a large label on the front cover. Very rare items.
- In the letter, Escoffier writes in ink ---- [Dear M. Cadier, In our short conversation this evening, I forgot to tell you that over and above the 10 pounds per week you will have 50 pounds gratuity at the end of each year. M.P. informed me of the little remark you made to him on the subject of M.M. Dupont and Carriyer, both of them are good friends and, as you know, they are not particularly well (suffering a little). They have been with me to pass the time waiting for jobs. Officially they have never been sous chefs. With regard to M. Limassin, although I had certain serious reasons for not being satisfied I gave him a post he can be proud of. I believe that in view of the circumstances it is necessary to give you the details. Yours sincerely A Escoffier P.S. If at any time you wish to acquire a post at the Carlton you can take all the time you need to allow you to find someone to replace you thereby not leaving the firm in an embarrassing situation]. -- Adolphe Hypolite Cadier -- 1882 – 1954. A French born chef who spent the major part of his working life in England. On arrival he first worked at Oddenino’s Restaurant, Regent Street, London for a short time in 1910. Cadier also worked 1939-42, at the famous fish restaurant; La Maison Prunier, St James St. London. He is mentioned on page 254 of Madame Prunier's very good book -- La Maison, History of Pruniers. London. 1957. Escoffier was the Maitre Chef de Cuisine of the Carlton Hotel, London from 1899-1919. His concern and care for chefs who had worked under him is well documented. Escoffier himself, in the translation of his own recorded notes in his great grand-daughter-in-law, Laurence Escoffier's book, 'Memories of my Life', states; "During my career I was able to implant 2,000 French chefs all over the world" This letter is a fine indication of that care and tact, for which he was revered. Combined with the signed photograph of a large group of contemporary fellow professionals, very interesting items of pertinent Escoffier ephemera.

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Ephemera category

ref number: 10988

Careme. Marie Antonin
Le Maitre d'hotel Francaise
2 VOLUMES -- LA MAITRE-D'HOTEL FRANCAIS, TRAITE DES MENUS A SERVIR A PARIS, A ST-PETERSBOURG, A LONDRES ET A VIENNE; PAR ANTONIN CAREME, auteur du Patissier Royal Parisien, - du Patissier Pittoresque, du Cuisinier Royal Parisien et de l'Art de la Cuisine Francaise au xix seicle. NOUVELLE EDITION. REVUE, CORRIGEE ET AUGMENTEE. TOME PREMIER. PARIS. Au depot principal, rue Therese, 11: ET CHEZ MM. J. RENOUARD et Cie, libraiares, 8 rue de Tournon. MAISON,, libraire, 29, quai des Augustins. MANSUT,libraire, 30, place St-Andre-des-Arts. DAUVIN et FONTAINE, libr, pass des Panorams. TRESSE, libraire, galerie de Chartres. DENTU, libraire, Palais-Royal. A LONDRES, CHEZ W. JEFFS, 15 BURLINGTON-ARCADE. 1842. TOME SECOND - (identical title page) 1842.
8vo. Volume 1. 1fep. Engraved frontispiece of two Chefs in uniform of a design by Careme. . Engraved Title page designed by Careme. Title-page. [1] 3pp. Dedication. [1] IX-XI Notice De M. le Marquis de Cussy. [1] 1-4pp. Avant-Propos. 5-352. 12 folding printed menus. 2 very large folding plates. 1fep. Volume 2. 1fep. half-title. Title page. [1] 1-282. 13 folding printed menus. 4 long folding plates of table settings. 2 large folding plates of Grand Buffets de la Cuisine Moderne. 1fep. Both volumes with dark tan spines with gilt lines and lettering, Also with brown marbled boards. Pastedown and end-papers marbled. Text and pages very clean. A very scarce item, especially in this condition.
- This is the second edition of 1842. The first edition was 1822. La Maitre d'Hotel Francaise is a fascinating and unusual cookery book. It describes the hundreds of menus he created and cooked in the capitals of Europe including many of his trademark lavish Buffets. The work is a testament to his monumental talent and shows a career that really took off when he left Talleyrand's service in 1815 to go and work in Brighton for the Prince Regent and after for Tsar Alexander followed by a time in Paris as Chef to the British Ambassador. Careme was among other things a self-taught artist and all the plates in these volumes are from his designs. (Maggs Bros Cat.1374.)

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 10999

Dubois. Urbain & Emile Bernard
La Cuisine Classique
VOLUME 1: LA CUISINE CLASSIQUE ETUDES PRATIQUES, RAISONNEES ET DEMONSTRATIVES D'ECOLE FRANCAISE URBAIN DUBOIS & EMILE BERNARD CHEFS DE CUISINE DE LL. MM. L'EMPEREUR ET L'EMPERATRICE D'ALLEMAGNE OUVERAGE ILLUSTRE DE 76 PLANCHES GRAVEES ET UN FRONTISPICE EMBRASSANT DANS SON CADRE TOUTS LES PRESCRIPTIONS THEORIQUES, D'APRES L'ORDRE ET LES PRINCIPES DE LA GRANDE CUISINE En cuisine, en peut briller selon sen aptitude, par le luxe, la variete, le gout parfait, les soins delicats; mais, parmi les qualite indispensables au practicion, nous mettons, en premier ligne, la science organisatrice et la connaissance approfondie de toutes les branches de l'art. TOME PREMIER DIXIEME EDITION PARIS E. DENTU, EDITEUR, PALAIS-ROYAL ET CHEZ TOUS LES PRINCIPAUX LIBRAIRES 1884 DROITS DE TRADUCTION ET REPRODUCTION RESERVES -- VOLUME 2: LA CUISINE CLASSIQUE ETUDES PRATIQUES, RAISONNEES ET DEMONSTRATIVES D'ECOLE FRANCAISE URBAIN DUBOIS & EMILE BERNARD CHEFS DE CUISINE DE LL. MM. L'EMPEREUR ET L'EMPERATRICE D'ALLEMAGNE OUVERAGE ILLUSTRE DE 76 PLANCHES GRAVEES ET UN FRONTISPICE EMBRASSANT DANS SON CADRE TOUTS LES PRESCRIPTIONS THEORIQUES, D'APRES L'ORDRE ET LES PRINCIPES DE LA GRANDE CUISINE En cuisine, en peut briller selon sen aptitude, par le luxe, la variete, le gout parfait, les soins delicats; mais, parmi les qualite indispensables au practicion, nous mettons, en premier ligne, la science organisatrice et la connaissance approfondie de toutes les branches de l'art. TOME SECOND DIXIEME EDITION PARIS E. DENTU, EDITEUR, PALAIS-ROYAL ET CHEZ TOUS LES PRINCIPAUX LIBRAIRES 1884 DROITS DE TRADUCTION ET REPRODUCTION RESERVES.
The 10th Edition; Large 4to. 307x250mm. VOLUME 1: Front paste-down and endpaper marbled. [1] 1fep. Half title. (1)Printers device. Engraved Frontispiece. [1] Title page. Verso with facsimile signature of Dubois. Half title for dedication. [1] Dedication a leurs Majestes de Prusse. [1] (1)x Preface to 1st edition. (1)xii Preface to 2nd edition. (1)xiv Preface to 8th edition. (1)xvi-xviii La Service a la Francaise. (1)xx-lxiv Menus. (1)2-421. [1]424-433 Table des Matieres. [1] 1p Table des Planches. [1] 1fep. Endpaper and back paste-down marbled. With 29 full page planches. Boards marbled with edges very slightly scuffed. Spine with black leather, raised bands and gilt lettering. Internally and externally very clean. VOLUME 2: Front paste-down and endpaper marbled. [1] 1fep. Half title. (1)Printers device. Title page. Verso with facsimile signature of Dubois. (1)2-526. [1]528-537 Table des Matieres. [1] 1p Table des Planches. [1] 1fep. Endpaper and back paste-down marbled. With 48 full page planches. (A total in both volumes of 77 planches). Boards marbled with edges very slightly scuffed. Spine with black leather, raised bands and gilt lettering. Internally and externally very clean. A handsome set of a magnificent cookery books. The fine engraved plates are incomparable.
- 'La Cuisine Classique' first published - 1856. Dubois' and Bernard's great classic, records a progressive step up from the style of French cookery based on the work of Marie Antonin Careme. These were simplifications and refinements (albeit still very complicated) of the early work of Carême. It was practised mainly in embassies, the grand houses of the titled and elite and also the royal palaces of Europe for much of the 19th and first half of the 20th century. The major developments were to replace service à la Française (serving all dishes at once) with service à la Russe (serving meals in courses but still on platters) and to develop a system of cookery which formalized the preparation of dishes with their sauces and garnishes. In its time, it was considered the pinnacle of haute cuisine, and it was a style distinct from cuisine bourgeoise (cuisine for families with cooks) the working-class cuisine of bistros and homes, and the cuisines of the the French provinces. Cuisine classique came under heavy criticism in 1972 from the food critics Henri Gault and Christian Milleau, for its rigidity, and penchant for elaborate, multi-layered preparations and heavily cooked foods, and an often whimsical and cryptic naming scheme for dishes. While restaurants serving cuisine classique are now generally considered stodgy anachronisms (if indeed there are any left) – they were supplanted by dining rooms serving nouvelle cuisine, where from the chef's point of view the biggest difference was serving the whole course on one plate. There has also been a revival of interest in provincial cooking (cuisine du terroir) and newer styles. La cuisine classique has had a decisive impact on cuisine as a whole. The cooking techniques of cuisine classique (but not the final assembly) still form the basis of most culinary educations, and the recipes of Escoffier's -'Le Guide Culinaire' and the combinations of the 'Le Repertoire de la Cuisine' are still used as a vital starting point in cooking versions of the French classics better suited to modern tastes. Those books and guides may not be consulted so much nowadays, but their lasting impact cannot be ignored, as every good French meal served today owes its creation, in large part to those times. It may be argued that there are no absolute original dishes, but rather, what we are served today is an amalgamation and progression of culinary techniques, advances in H&S and refridgeration, improved equipment and market availability since man hunted with spears. Our real debt is to those master cooks who imparted and maintained the highest standards possible and also left behind from their time, a written legacy of their knowledge and craft, that in turn influences and inspires the next generations. These two magnificent volumes from Dubois & Bernard cannot help but amaze; truly a different time.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11030

SMITH. Robert Very Scarce.
Court Cookery: or the Compleat English COOK.
Containing the Choicest and Newest RECEIPTS FOR MAKING Soops, Pottages, Fricasseys, Harshes, Farces, Ragoo's, Cullises, Sauces, Forc'd-Meats, and Souses: With various Ways of Dressing most Sorts of Flesh, Fish, and Fowl, Wild, and Tame; with the best Methods of Potting, Collaring and Pickling. AS LIKEWISE Of Pastes, Pies, Pasties, Patties, Puddings, Tansies, Biskets, Creams, Cheesecakes, Florentines, Cakes, Jellies, Sillabubs and Custards. ALSO Of Candying and Preserving: With a Bill of Fare for every Month in the Year, and the latest Improvements in Cookery, Pastry, &c. By R. Smith, Cook (under Mr. Lamb) to King William, as also to the Dukes of Buckingham, Ormond, D'Aumone (the French Ambassador) and others of the Nobility and Gentry. The Second Edition, with large Additions. LONDON: Printed for T. Wotton, at the Three-Daggers in Fleet-Street. M.DCC.XXV.
8vo. 1fep. Title page with double line border. [1] 6p To the Nobility and Gentry with printers device at the top of the page. 1+2-212. 213-218 Bills of Fare. 14p Index. 1fep. Text and pages very slightly age browned at the edges but overall nice, clean and crisp. Full dark brown calf original boards with a lovely patina. The spine rebound in sympathetic dark brown calf with raised bands, blind-tooled lines, with a dark green label with gilt letters and lines. With the date 1725 in gilt at the bottom of the spine. overall a very nice copy with the bookplate of Mary Chadsey.
- In the Preface, Robert Smith, who worked under Patrick Lamb in the kitchens of King William states he knew most of Lamb’s receipts and methods of dressings; yet several of those receipts now in Lamb’s famous cookery book ‘Royal Cookery’ were never made or practised by him. He further states that other receipts are extreme [sic] defective and imperfect, and made up of ingredients unknown to him; he further claims they were more calculated at the purses, than the ‘gout’ of the guests. Strong criticism of a fellow chef indeed.! A riposte from Lamb is not recorded. A search of Wikipedia highlights an interesting point --- according to legend, the macaroon was invented in an Italian monastery in 1792. Later, two Carmelite nuns, hiding in the town of Nancy during the French Revolution, baked and sold macaroons to cover their expenses. They became known as the "Macaroon Sisters." The cookie recipe was supposedly passed on to the Jewish community in France, who subsequently made it a staple of Passover baking --- However, recipes for macaroons (also spelled "mackaroon" "maccaroon" and "mackaroom") appear in 1724, the date of this edition of Smith's ‘Court Cookery. A scarce and interesting book.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11034

Farley. John - The rare first edition
The London Art of Cookery,
AND HOUSEKEEPER'S COMPLETE ASSISTANT. On a NEW PLAN. Made Plain and Easy to the Understanding of every HOUSEKEEPER, COOK, and SERVANT in the Kingdom. CONTAINING, Proper Directions for the Choice of all Kinds of Provisions. Roasting and Boiling all Sorts of Butchers Meat, Poultry, Game, and Fish. Sauces for every Occasion. Soups, Broths, Stews, and Hashes. Made Dishes, Ragouts, and Fricasses. All Sorts of Pies and Puddings. Proper Instruction for dressing of Fruits and Vegetables. Pickling, Potting, and Preserving. The Prepeartion of Hmas, Tongues, and Bacon. The whole Art of Confectionary. Tarts, Puffs, and Pastries. Cakes, Custards, Jams, and Jellies. Drying, Candying, and Preserving Fruits, &c. Made Wines, Cordial Waters, and Malt Liquors. To which is added, AN APPENDIX, Cotaining Considerations on Culinary Poisins; Directions for making Broths, &c. for the Sick; a List of Things in Season in the different Months of the Year; Marketing Tables, &c. &c. Embeliched with A HEAD of the AUTHOR, and a Bill of Fare for every Month in the Year, elegantly engraved on Thirteen Copper-plates. By JOHN FARLEY, PRINCIPAL COOK AT THE LONDON TAVERN. LONDON: Printed for JOHN FEILDING, No.23, Pater-noster Row; and J. SCAT-CHERD and J. WHITTAKER, No.12, Ava Maria Lane, 1783. [Price Six Shillings Bound.]
FIRST EDITION. 1783. 3feps. [1]Engraved Frontispiecs of Farley - Publish'd Jan 1. 1783 ---. Title page. [1] (1)iv-vi Preface with facsimile signature of Farley. (1)viii-xx Contents. 12 engraved plates of Bills of Fare. (1)2-455. 456-459 Marketing Table. [1] 3feps. Full dark brown modern calf with blind tooling to the edge of the boards. The spine with raised bands and panels with gilt dentelles and enclosed gilt lines. Two labels, one red, one green with gilt writing. Water stains to the frontis and title page not affecting the text, nor Farley's portrait. Otherwise very clean internally. A lovely copy.
- Towards the end of the eighteenth century, large taverns had become fashionable banqueting places for gentlemen in London. This was reflected by their chefs and their published cookery books; This book by John Farley, Principal Cook at the London Tavern. Also Richard Brigg’s, ‘The English Art of Cookery’ from the Globe Tavern, Fleet St, the White Hart Tavern, Holburn and at the Temple Coffee House. Not forgetting Francis Collingwood and John Woolams, ‘The Universal Cook,’ from the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand. Farley's place of employment, The London Tavern in Bishopsgate Street was the largest restaurant and banqueting facility in the City. It held functions for up to two thousand five hundred people at a sitting. In E. Callow's book on 'Old London Taverns - 1901 & J. Timbs 'Clubs of London' 1872, we learn that the establishment was 'par excellence' and the 'temple of gastronomy' in London. It did not have a bar nor coffee house, with a facade so large and discreet that many people thought it was the Bank of England. It had a prodigious cellar that stretched to both sides lengthways, even under the neighbouring buildings and far out in the front under Bishopsgate Street itself. It held among its huge stock hundreds of barrels of Porter, butts of Sherry, 4,300 dozen bottles of port, 1,200 dozen Champagne, walls of bottled Claret six deep, etc etc. We are informed that the floors of the cellars were a river of sawdust. Also in a huge tank in the cellar that occupied a whole vault, we find two tons of live turtle. We are informed that they can keep in excellent condition for three months if kept in the same water in which they were brought to the country. We learn that to change the water to that available here lessens the weight and flavour of the Turtle. We can find in Farley's book tips and information on how he grew mushrooms in the cellars. What a place to work! The kitchen brigade must have been huge, the wage bill for the whole Tavern - a small fortune each week. In PPC 42 & 43, Fiona Lucraft lays out a very comprehensive and compelling piece of research that rightly condemns Farley of devious and outright plagiarism and proves that most of The London Art of Cookery has been taken straight from the cookery books of Hannah Glasse and Elizabeth Raffald. Nevertheless one gets a sense from Farley’s book that he was a very good professional cook proud of his high standards. He is one of the first English cooks to express (so typical of the French for more than a century) a continuing need for progress and improvement in the culinary arts. Farley in his introduction states with some pride that -- 'Cookery, like every other Art, has been moving forward to Perfection by slow Degrees; and, though the Cooks of the last Century boasted of having brought it to the highest Pitch it could bear, yet we find that daily improvements are still making therein, which must be the Case of every Art depending on Fancy and Taste: ---’ Farley appears to have very high standards of cleanliness and safety, repeatedly stressing in his book, the need for saucepans to be both clean and well tinned and he has an appendix on ‘culinary poisons’, particularly the risk of copper poisoning, which can happen when the tin wears down and exposes foodstuffs to the copper underneath. Whatever Fiona Lutcraft's excellent article in PPC proves, this is still an exceptional cookery book and gives a very good idea of the foods and dishes available at a highly reputed establishment. One has to assume that as Farley brought out his very popular book that ran to many editions, albeit, some of it plagarised, he also cooked and served a large percentage of the recipes at The London Tavern. As a footnote; the first luxury restaurant to open in Paris paid homage to Farley’s place of work. In 1782 - ‘La Grande Taverne de Londres,’ was founded. The owner, Antoine Beauvilliers, a leading culinary writer and gastronomic authority, later wrote L’Art du cuisinier (1814), a cookbook that became a standard work on French culinary art. This book of Farley's on view here is the extremely rare first edition, and is equally as rare as the first editions of Glasse and Raffald.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11035

Dalrymple. George - A sole edition. Very scarce
The Practice of Modern Cookery;
ADAPTED TO FAMILIES OF DISTINCTION, As well as to those of The MIDDLING RANKS of LIFE. To which is added, A GLOSSARY explaining the Terms of Art. By GEORGE DALRYMPLE, Late Cook to Sir John Whitefoord, Bart. EDINBURGH: Printed for the Author. Sold by C.ELLIOT, Edinburgh; and T.LONGMAN, London. MDCCLXXXI.
FIRST AND SOLE EDITION. 1781. 1fep. Title page. [1] 1p Dedication to Lady Whitefoord. [1] 1+vi Preface. 1+2-462. 1+464 Glossary of Terms. 1+466-475 Index. 1p Errata. 1fep. Title page evenly browned. Some minor foxing and staining to first six leaves. Some very light age browning throughout. Original dark brown sheep boards. Modern sympathetically rebound dark brown spine with raised bands and blind tooling. A dark brown label with gilt lettering and lines.
- George Dalrymple provides us with around one thousand recipes, giving them both English and French names. He is also one of the first cookery writers to give a glossary of terms. These points are remarkable according to Maclean. In his preface Dalrymple explains "there are a number of excellent receipts I have had occasionally from others..." – Maclean may be rather less enthused had she realised that Dalrymple plagiarized many of the recipes from the Frenchman, Bernard Clermont’s cookery book, ‘The Professed Cook' first edition, 1755. (which in turn is a translation of Menon’s French work ‘Les Soupers de la Cour). George Dalrymple had been cook to Sir John Whitfoord and the book is dedicated to his wife. Sir John, the third baronet, lived in Whitefoord House in the Canongate in Edinburgh. Whitfoord is supposed to have been the original of Sir Arthur Wardour in Scott's 'Antiquary' and was one of the early partrons of Burns who celebrated him in verse and who made his daughter Maria [Cranstoun] the heroine of the 'Braes of Ballochmyle'. He was a very well-known figure in the Scottish capital and was depicted in Kay along with his cronies, Major Andrew Fraser and the Hon. Andrew Erskine (Edinburgh Portraits, 1877, no. cxcii). Thus it can be assumed that Dalrymple had cooked for the great and the good of mid-seventeenth century Edinburgh. This is a sole edition and uncommon in most cookery book collections. An interesting read also. Vicaire 244; Oxford p.113; Bitting p.114; Cagle 640; Maclean p.37; Lehmann p.141.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11036

Coghan. Thomas
THE HAVEN OF HEALTH.
Cheifely gathered for the comfort of Students, and consequently of all those that have a care of their health; amplified upon five words of Hypocrates, written Epid.6. Labor, Cibus, Potie, Somnus, Venus. Hereunto is added, a preservation form the Pestilence, with a short censureof the late sickness in Oxford. By Thomas Coghan, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Physicke. Ecclesiasicus oap.37.30. By surfeit have many perished: but he that dieteth himselfe prolongeth his life. The fourth Edition, corrected and amended. LONDON, Printed by Anne Griffin, for Roger Ball, and are to be sold at his shop without Temple-barre, at the Golden Anchor next the Nags-head Taverne. 1636.
Small 4to. 2feps with bookplates of Aldenham and W.G. Peene. Title page. [1] 8p Epistle Dedicatorie. 6p To the Reader. 1+2-321. [1] 22p The Table. 2feps. Modern quarter calf with marbled boards, slightly rubbed. Spine with gilt lines and black label with gilt lettering. Title page age darkened. Some soiling and marginal damp-staining. C1 defective with lower outer portion torn. Closed tear to E4. Lower outer corner of H3 torn without loss of text. Final leaf (V4) slightly damp frayed and with two small worm holes affecting lettering of final line of recto. Small neat scattered pencil marginalia throughout especially on the feps.
- The first printed English cookery book, the ‘Boke of Cokery’ produced by Pynson in 1500, was based on 15th-century texts. There was no immediate rush to print cookery books; what did appear were books of advice on diet and health, and on household and estate management, two areas which are often associated with receipts in medieval manuscripts. The best known of the first type are Sir Thomas Elyot’s 'Castel of Health'. 1539, (see item 11253 on this site) and Andrew Boorde’s ‘Dyetary of Health’ circa 1542. The two books are remarkably similar, giving advice on healthy lifestyle based on Galen, although both authors offer comments on what is suitable for Englishmen, thus adapting Galenic theory to their readers. Thomas Coghan, a later rival to these authors, based his 'Haven of Health' (1584) on Elyot, but changed the order of his book to follow Hippocrates rather than Galen, and supplied a much more extensive commentary on a wider variety of herbs than the earlier writer. In these texts one can begin to discern signs of change at the dinner-table, with Elyot’s remarks on the wholesomeness of beef for the healthy Englishman, and with Coghan’s comments on salads, eaten at the beginning of the meal, and on apple tarts, eaten at the end. The second type of publication is best represented by Thomas Tusser’s doggerel writings, ‘A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie’ 1557, expanded to 'Five Hundreth Points' in 1573. The expanded version gives advice to housewives, stressing their role as providers of care and medicines for the sick, as well as managers of the daily routine of the household. Thomas Coghan advised students to breakfast on light, digestible foods, to avoid overloading the stomach with a variety of meats at one meal, to cut down on salt and to drink milk as a counteractant to melancholy. He recognized that excessive study made students prone to mental breakdown and recommended that they take regular breaks from study to avoid exhausting their mental energy, and that they refresh their minds with recreations such as music or games” (Norman 493). “It is a book of good sense… By the use of ‘one dish onely at one meale, and drinking thereto but small drinke’ he became slender” (Osler 2331). Coghan divided preventative health into five categories: labor or exercise of body and mind, eating, drinking, sleeping and sexual relations. Includes recipes for a variety of healthy drinks, including aqua vitae, rofa solis, cinnamon water, wormwood wine and buttered beer. Norman 493. STC 5481. Lowndes, 487. See Cagle 621-22, Osler 2331-33, Walleriana 2036.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11045

Escoffier. Georges Auguste - Signed by Escoffier, unusually in English.
A GUIDE TO MODERN COOKERY
BY A. ESCOFFIER OF THE CARLTON HOTEL WITH PORTRAIT NEW AND REVISED EDITION (with a printer's device and initials M.H.) LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1909
165x250mm. 1fep. Half title with signature in black ink "To Mr H. Fowler With best Compliments A. Escoffier London 16 Fevrier 1909" (with a very little light foxing). [1] Frontispiece of 'Escoffier' with tissue guard. Title Page. [1] (1)vi-x Preface. (1)xii Contents. (1)xiv-xvi Glossary. (1)1-848. [1p Index] [1] (1)852-891 Index. 1p Advertisements. 1fep. Original clean full green cloth binding with bright gilt writing and tooling on the spine and front cover with a slight rubbing to edges. The gutter inside is split but holding well. All edges green. Internally, clean and bright. Also enclosed is a beautifully produced four page 'Escoffier Ltd' promotional pamphlet and price list for all Escoffier Sauces, and we are also informed the Preparations can be obtained from all high-class Grocers and Stores. It has a fold in the middle and slight browning around the edges.
- The first English edition was published in 1907. This is the 3 imprint and the second English translation of the first French edition of 1903. At that time of publication, Escoffier was Maitre Chef de Cuisine of the Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall, London. His tenure there lasted 20 years, from 1899 - 1919. Nice clean original bound copies with the gilt lettering still bright are very scarce and with the unusual signature and the rare pamphlet - an altogether rare and handsome copy.

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Modern category

ref number: 11124

ANON. - Very rare.
Adam's Luxury and Eve's Cookery
OR,THE Kitchen-Garden display’d. In Two Parts. 1. Shewing the best and most approved Methods of raising and bringing to the greatest Perfection, all the Products of the Kitchen-Garden; with a Kalendar shewing the different Products of each Month, and the Business proper to be done in it. 11. Containing a large Collections of Receipts for dressing all Sorts of Kitchen Stuff, so as to afford a great Variety of cheap, healthful, and palata-ble Dishes. To which is Added, The Physical Virtues of every Herb and Root. (a line) Designed for the Use of all who would live Cheap, and pre-serve their Health to old Age ; particularly for Farmers and Tradesmen in the Country, who have but small Pieces of Garden Ground, and are willing to make the most of it. (a line) LONDON: Printedc for R. Dobsley, in Pall-Mall ; and Sold by M. Cooper, at the Globe in Pater-noster Row. (a line) MDCCXLIV.
FIRST AND SOLE EDITION. 1744. 12mo. Inside-cover with the bookplate of Mary Chadsey. 1fep. Half Title with small thin 1” piece torn from outer edge without loss, also with ownership inscription “Elizabeth Wynn 1761”. [1]. Title page. [1]. The Introduction - (1) with woodcut headpiece, vi – xii, with woodcut tailpiece. (1) Top woodcut border and decorated initial letters, 2-211. The garden Kalendar starts on p 81. The second part starts on p 101. (1)213-216. 2feps with ownership inscription “Gwen Thomas her book – 1774. Bound in modern full brown calf with two-tone panels on boards. Spine with raised bands and red label with gilt lettering and lines. Bottom compartment with gilt date – 1744. The first few leaves slightly browned but overall in very good condition.
- An unusual old cookery book. It has interesting information and very good advice on the first 80 pages on growing all items in the Kitchen garden. Then 20 pages of very precise Kalendar [sic] information. The second section of 110 pages has unusually for the time, good and detailed recipes. Not all recipes are purely vegetarian as some require meat stocks. This is an important item of any collection of early English cookery books. It helps explain why COPAC lists no less than nineteen British libraries holding a copy. Only 3 copies in auction in 30 years. One of which came up twice. Bitting p 514; Cagle p 541; MacLean p 3; Oxford p 74.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11201

Bradley. Mrs Martha. - Sole edition.
THE BRITISH HOUSEWIFE
Volume 1. - OR, THE COOK, HOUSEKEEPER’s AND GARDINER’S COMPANION. CALCULATED FOR THE Service both of London and the Country; And directing what is necessary to be done in the Providing for, Conducting, and Managing a Family throughout the Year, CONTAINING A general Account of fresh Provisions of all Kinds, Of the several Articles for the Table, pickled, or otherwise preserved; and the different Kinds of Spices, Salts, Sugars, and other Ingredients used in Pickling and Preserving at Home; Shew-ing what each is, whence it was bought, and what are its Qualities and Uses. Together with the Nature of all Kinds of Foods, and the Methos of suiting them to different CONSTITUTIONS; A Bill of Fare for each Month, the Art of Marketing and choosing fresh Provisions of all Kinds; and the making as well as chusing of Hams, Tongues, and other Store Dishes. Also Directions for plain Roasting and Boiling; and for the Dressing of all Sorts of Made Dishes in various Tastes; and the preparing the Desert in all its Articles. Containing a great Variety than was ever before publish’d, of the most Elegant, yet the least Expensive Receipts in COOKERY, PASRTRY, PUDDINGS, PRESERVES, PICKELS, FRICASSES,RAGOUTS, SOUPS, SAUCES, JELLIES, TARTS, CAKES, CREAMS, CUSTARDS, CANDIES, DRY’D FUITS, SWEETMEATS, MADE WINES, CORDIALS, and DISTILLARY. To which is annexed, The Art of Carving; and the Terms used for cutting up various Things; and the polite and easy Manner of doing the Honours of the Table: The Whole Prac-tice of Pickling and Preserving: And of preparing made Wines, Beer, Cyder.As also of distilling all the useful Kinds of Cordial and Simple Waters. With the Conduct of a Family in Respect of Health; the Disorders to which they are every Month liable, and the most approved Remedies for each. And a Variety of other valuable Particulars, necessary to known in All Families; and nothing inserted but what has been approved by EXERIENCE. Also the Ordering of all Kinds of profitable Beats and Fowls, With respect their Choice, their Breeding and Feeding; the Diseases to which they are severally laible each Month, and Receipts for their Cure. Together with the Management of the pleasant, profitable, and useful Garden. THE WHOLE Embellished with a great Number of curious COPPER PLATES, shewing the Manner of Trussing of all Kinds of Game, wild and tame Fowls, &c. as also the Order of setting out Tables for Dinners, Suppers, and Great Entertainments, in the Method never before attempted; and by which even those who cannot read will be able to instruct themselves. ( a line) Mrs MARTHA BRADLEY, late of BATH; Being the result of upwards of Thirty Years Experience. (a line) The whole (which is deduc’d form Practice) compleating the careful Reader, from the highest to the lowest Degree, in every Article of English Housewifery. LONDON: Printed for S. Crowder and H. Woodgate, at the Golden Ball in Paternoster Row. Circa1756. -- Volume 2. - THE BRITISH HOUSEWIFE OR, THE COOK, HOUSEKEEPER’s AND GARDINER’S COMPANION. CALCULATED FOR THE Service both of London and the Country; And directing what is necessary to be done in the Providing for, Conducting, and Managing a Family throughout the Year, CONTAINING A general Account of fresh Provisions of all Kinds, Of the several Articles for the Table, pickled, or otherwise preserved; and the different Kinds of Spices, Salts, Sugars, and other Ingredients used in Pickling and Preserving at Home; Shew-ing what each is, whence it was bought, and what are its Qualities and Uses. Together with the Nature of all Kinds of Foods, and the Methods of suiting them to different CONSTITUTIONS; A Bill of Fare for each Month, the Art of Marketing and choosing fresh Provisions of all Kinds; and the making as well as chusing of Hams, Tongues, and other Store Dishes. Also Directions for plain Roasting and Boiling; and for the Dressing of all Sorts of Made Dishes in various Tastes; and the preparing the Desert in all its Articles. Containing a great Variety than was ever before publish’d, of the most Elegant, yet the least Expensive Receipts in COOKERY, PASRTRY, PUDDINGS, PRESERVES, PICKELS, FRICASSES,RAGOUTS, SOUPS, SAUCES, JELLIES, TARTS, CAKES, CREAMS, CUSTARDS, CANDIES, DRY’D FUITS, SWEETMEATS, MADE WINES, CORDIALS, and DISTILLARY. To which is annexed, The Art of Carving; and the Terms used for cutting up various Things; and the polite and easy Manner of doing the Honours of the Table: The Whole Prac-tice of Pickling and Preserving: And of preparing made Wines, Beer, Cyder.As also of distilling all the useful Kinds of Cordial and Simple Waters. With the Conduct of a Family in Respect of Health; the Disorders to which they are every Month liable, and the most approved Remedies for each. And a Variety of other valuable Particulars, necessary to known in All Families; and nothing inserted but what has been approved by EXERIENCE. Also the Ordering of all Kinds of profitable Beats and Fowls, With respect their Choice, their Breeding and Feeding; the Diseases to which they are severally laible each Month, and Receipts for their Cure. Together with the Management of the pleasant, profitable, and useful Garden. THE WHOLE Embellished with a great Number of curious COPPER PLATES, shewing the Manner of Trussing of all Kinds of Game, wild and tame Fowls, &c. as also the Order of setting out Tables for Dinners, Suppers, and Great Entertainments, in the Method never before attempted; and by which even those who cannot read will be able to instruct themselves. (a line) Mrs MARTHA BRADLEY, late of BATH; Being the result of upwards of Thirty Years Experience. (a line) VOL.II. (a line) The whole (which is deduc’d from Practice) compleating the careful Reader, from the highest to the lowest Degree, in every Article of English Housewifery. LONDON: Printed for S. Crowder and H. Woodgate, at the Golden Ball in Paternoster Row. Circa1756.
FIRST and SOLE EDITION in book form. 8vo. Two volumes. Vol. I – 2feps. [1] Frontispiece of a kitchen declaring – Frontispiece of the Compleat English Cook. Title page. [1] 3-752. 5 Ornately engraved plates. 2 feps. -- Vol. II. 2 feps with ink inscription ‘M. Bache Wyken 1794.’ Title page. [1] 1-469. Contents to the First Volume (ix). Index for the First Volume (xii). Contents to the Second Volume (v). Index for the second volume (vii). 7 plates depicting settings for various dinners and a wedding and one for trussing. 2 feps. The five plates bound in Volume I are duplicated plus two others in Volume II. Both volumes in full original calf, slightly worn with nice patina and with repairs and neatly re-backed in the old style with raised bands and red morocco labels. Some wear and damp staining to both volumes, small amount of worming to bottom margin of Volume I and title page of Volume 11 cropped on the bottom but text still visible. Mainly the contents are clean and tight. A nice set. For a fuller account of the dating of this work see Gilly Lehmann's introduction to the facsimile edition published by Prospect Books, 1996, see also Cagle 401-2.
- MacLean located an advertisement in ‘Scots Magazine’, January 1756 announcing the “British Housewife, No 1, To be continued weekly, 3d. Crowder.” While no copy has survived unbound in parts, part numbers 1-XLI are designated in the signatures. If the weekly schedule was maintained, publication would have been completed late in 1756. [Cagle p 402] Martha Bradley’s directions and style is straightforward and factual. She writes well. She endeavours to help the cook and housewife better than had previously been attempted. There are no glossy photographs to beguile the reader, however there are handsome etched plates showing how to set a fine table. Today, the abundance available to us all year round makes us forget the limits of that times and what the seasons allowed. For example, a winter table for twelve persons could have seven dishes placed on the table. February and March became the months when pickled and preserved foods provided the only variety. Then spring was the time to sow seasonal crops for future bounty. One of the etched plates shows an abundant table in July; the first course has seven plates laid out simultaneously and the second course another ten different dishes. An ostentatious display and one wonders what family and household’s position in society is the norm for a dinner like this. Gastronomically, seasons do not affect us anymore. Today our menus can include anytime, a plethora of tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, fish and meats, flown in bi-weekly from all over the globe. As the title states, Bradley’s instructions for the running of the household from the marketing and providing of the kitchen month by month, the garden, the still-room, the brewery, the stables, the disorders of many types of animals and their remedies etc. It is clear that the author wrote the recipes from her experience in the kitchen and she is absolutely clear and firm that they should be carried out as laid down by her instructions. She is adamant that vegetables should not be over boiled, there are strict rules on the poaching of eggs: 'This is the true way ... our People all mistake it, they let the Eggs boil.... Although little is known about her other than she is believed to have been a professional cook,with 'thirty years experience' (as stated on her title page) Bradley favoured the newest French cooking style of the 1730’s which featured light, clean flavours, but was not above preferring a ‘plain’ English recipe if she felt it was better. She borrowed heavily from other cookbooks but always improved the recipes in some way, often providing insightful comments and offering balanced appraisals of the merits of one dish versus another. A very desirable set that stands out in any collection.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11202