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Moffet (Muffett). Thomas - Very good condition.
Healths Improvement;
OR, Rules Comprizing and discovering The Nature, Method, and Manner of Preparing all sorts of FOOD Used in this NATION. (A single flat line) Wriiten by that ever Famous THOMAS MUFFETT, Doctor in PHYSICK: (A single flat line) Corrected and Enlarged BY CHRISTOFER BENNET, Doctor in Physick, and Fellow of the College of Physicians in London. (A single flat line) LONDON, Printed by Tho: Newcomb for Samuel Thomson, at the sign of the white Horse in Pauls Churchyard, 1655.
FIRST EDITION. Small 4to. 190 x 146 mm. 1fep. Title page. [2] Imprimatur page. (1)2-8 The Table. 2pages To the Reader. 1-296. 1 fep. Full dark brown sheep. Blind tooling to covers and spine. Gilt lettering and red leather label with gilt lines. A very light small water stain on upper corner of the title page and next four pages, not affecting text, otherwise, almost as new. Some occasional marginalia in a neat hand. Many bibliographical sources printed in margins. An exceptionally nice clean copy of a very scarce book.
- There exists a varied number of ways that Muffett (as spelled in this edition) is written. Cagle shows at least six ways. He also states Moffett is preferred by NUC, Mouffet by BMC, and Muffett by BNC. For the sake of filing them together on this site, I have used the later 'Moffet'. In an interesting historical thesis featuring Thomas Muffett, written and posted online by Christopher A. DeAngelo of Haverford College, PA, USA, who starts his dissertation with the famous poem:- “Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet / Eating her curds and whey / Along came a big spider / And sat down beside her / And frightened Miss Muffet away!”. Mr DeAngelo further states; "Thomas Muffet, the 16th century English natural philosopher, is best known today for the above nursery rhyme. He apparently wrote it about his daughter. Some people have even suggested that the poem refers to Muffet’s experiments on his daughter with spiders, which led to her being deathly afraid of them for the rest of her life. Despite the wide acceptance of these claims, there is no historical evidence to support any of them. Whether or not Muffett had anything to do with the actual writing of the poem, it is undeniably linked to him. The poem includes two concrete allusions to Muffett’s work. The spider is a direct reference to Muffett’s ‘Theatrum Insectorum’, in which the largest section deals with the classification of spiders. The curds and whey come straight out of ‘Healths Improvement’, where Muffett named curds and whey (both milk products) as essential to a good diet". Thomas Moffett was born in 1553 and died in 1604, so it must be assumed that the Christofer Bennet mentioned in the title page of ‘Healths Improvement’ who corrected and enlarged the book, was the first one to edit Muffett’s manuscript notes. One must then wonder how much he added and what exactly is Muffett’s original work. Whatever the truth, this is a very interesting work. It is also the first work to list British wild fowl and to comment on their migrations.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11232

Woolley. Hannah
The Accomplish'd LADIES DELIGHT
IN Preserving, Physick, Beautifying, and Cookery. CONTAINING 1. The ART of PRESERVING, and CANDYING Fruits and Flowers, and the making of all sorts of Conserves, Syrups, and Jellies. 11. The PHYSICAL CABINET, Or Excellent Receipts in Physick and Chirurgery, Together with some Rare Beautifying Waters, to adorn and add loveliness to the Face and Body: And also some New and Excellent Secrets and Experiments in the ART of ANGLING. 111. The Compleat COOKS GUIDE, Or, directions for dressing all sorts of Flesh, Fowl and Fish, both in the English and French Mode, with all Sauces and Sallets; and the making Pyes, Pasties, Tarts, and Custards, with the Forms and Shapes of many of them. The Fifth Edition Enlarged. LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Harris, at the Stationers Arms and Anchor, in the Piazza, at the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1685.
12mo. 2 modern fep [1]. Engraved frontispiece of the author and engraved Title-page of four household scenes. [1] 2nd Title page. 2 pages of Epistle Directory signed T.P. PART 1- The Art of Preserving 1-65. PART 2- Excellent Receipts in Physick and Chirurgery 66-105 with Frontispiece illustration of couple fishing (page 106). The Art of Angling. 107-126 with 1p illustration of fish, pages 115 & [1]. PART 3- The Complete Cooks Guide 127-196 with 2 pages of illustrations of Pye shapes. p197 - 199 Terms of Carving. p200 - 204 Bills of Fare. (1) To the Reader, signed BH. p206 - 208 A Great Feast, 12p of 'The Table'. 2 modern fep. Half tan calf with marbled boards and tan calf corners, Spine with gilt lines and 2 red labels with gilt lettering . The frontis, engraved title page and 2nd title page and 4 pages internally with expert repairs to the page edges. A very good copy with minimal aging.
- There are doubts as to whether this really is the work of Hannah Wolley. [See PPC #9 pp.66. Uta Schumacher-Voelker casts serious doubt on the authorship of this book and furthermore, presents some compelling points of research, that at least highlight the ambiguity, but unfortunately do not prove conclusively the case, for or against]. From the library of Edward Gordon Craig we also learn that it is probably an unauthorised work based on Woolley's text. Certainly the ambiguous fact of two different initials in the same book, of one T.P. at the end of the Epistle Directory and the initials of B.H. on the un-numbered page next to p204 further hightens the confusion. It has been listed here under Wolley, as that is the name on one of the labels. If an answer is ever found and whatever it may be, it is none the less a rare book.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 10924

Kidder. Edward - A rare early edition
E. KIDDER'S RECEIPTS OF Pastry AND Cookery.
For the Use of his Scholars. Who teaches at his School in St Martins le Grand; On. Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, In the Afternoon, ALSO On Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, In the Afternoon, at his School next to Furnivals Inn in Holburn. Ladies may be taught at their own Houses.
8vo. The 1st edition, 2nd issue of 1721. 1fep. Engraved portrait frontispiece by Robert Shephard. Title page, 41 leaves with the cursive script engraved on rectos only with versos blank. (A costly and rarely used process). Last two leaves with 'The Order for Bills of Fare' and the Index. 1fep. Full brown speckled sheep binding, with raised bands on spine with gilt lines and green label with gilt lettering. Internally nice and clean, with a small light oily fingerprint on the bottom corner of the title page (not affecting the text).
- In reality this is not a printed book but rather a book of engravings. The beautifully laid out sheets of engraved scripted recipes, (with every verso blank) the elegant title page, the sculpted looking frontispiece, go towards making this one of the most handsome books, not only in cookery but any category. The portrait of Kidder is 'un-wigged', showing his natural hair. Other later editions have Kidder with wig and 8 engraved plates that were also added, (see item 11290 below). Also in later editions, pagination and recipe numbers vary greatly. This is all explained by the fact that Kidder's book only came about after his students were issued with the recipe sheets as their daily lessons progressed during their cookery course. It appears from the later editions of the book, Kidder's lessons were developed and added to, though the actual recipes themselves stayed the same. Another point of interest in the title pages of later editions, is the changing location addresses of Kidder's schools, presumably as his student numbers grew. Because of these haphazard factors, the work is bibliographically complex. Thankfully, it is greatly helped by the very good research of Peter Targett in the UK & Simon Varey in the US, whose joint study is published in Petit Propos Culinaires, Vols # 32 & 39. The study verifies this edition is complete as well as compelling evidence of all the other various editions and their cookery school locations. Collectors want the later copies with the eight engraved plates (3 folding) of patterns and ornamental designs for pies and pastries. This is understandable, but the very early editions like this one, without the plates but never the less complete, are rarer still.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 10966

Anon. - Rare; one of the first dedicated to sweetmaking.
The True Way
OF Preserving and Candying, AND Making Several Sorts OF Sweet-Meats, According to the Best and Truest Manner, Made Publick for the Benifit of all English Ladies and Gentlewoman; especially for my Scholars. LONDON, Printed for the Author, in the Year, MDCXCV.
The second edition 1695. 12vo. 1fep. Title page. 4p The Epistle Directory. 7-154. 6p The Contents. 1fep. Full contemporary dark brown calf with gilt lines and fillets on the boards. Spine with raised bands, gilt lines with a red label and gilt lettering. Text block uniformly but lightly age browned though-out. The last page has three light brown strips from previous old sellotape. Text not affected.
- There is a surprising similarity between this anonymous work, 'The True Way' and the two books bound in one volume, “Young Cooks Monitor of 1705 and Mary Tillinghast’s “Rare and Excellent Receipts” 1678. (see item # 10960 on this site under 'Tillinghast') The three books and receipts are remarkably similar with the three Title pages all proclaiming they are; "Made Publick for the Use and Benefit of my Scholars". The Epistle Directories of both books have the same similar statement addressed to her Scholars. (There is no Epistle Directory in Tillinghast's book). The 'True Way' does not have any indication of authorship, while the 'Cook's Monitor' has M.H. after the preface. This compiler suggests that Mary Tillinghast is the maiden name of the M.H. of the 'Young Cooks Monitor', and that sometime after writing/publishing her 'Excellent Receipts' in 1678, Tillinghast married and assumed her married initials of M.H. while keeping the authorship of 'The True Way' anonymous. At this point in time there is probably no way to prove this theory, but the startling similarities between the three works (bound in two volumes) are too evident to ignore. The BL holds two copies of 'The True Way', a first of 1681 and one copy of the 1695. A first edition of 1681, was sold from the John Lyle Collection at Bloomsbury Auctions, on June 2003. Lyle describes the 1st edition as 'extremely rare'. This edition not found in Vicaire, Oxford or Bitting. Wing locates copies in Leeds Brotherton, Clark Lib.in LA and NY Pub. Lib. One complete copy sold at Sotheby's in the Crahan collection at NY on Nov.18th 1986, but none recorded at auction in any other major collection. This one must also be considered rare.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 10962

Shirley. John - Very rare.
The Accomplished Ladies Rich Closet OF RARITIES.
OR, THE Ingenoius Gentlewoman and Servant-Maids Delightful Companion. Containing many Excellent Things for the ACCOMPLISHMENT of the FEMALE SEX, after the exactest Manner and Method, viz. (1) The Art of Distilling. (2) Making Artificial Wines. (3) Making Syrups. (4) Conserving, Preserving, etc. (5) Candying and Drying Fruits, etc. (6) Confectioning. (7) Carving. (8) To make Beautifying waters, Oyls, Pomatums, Musk-balls, Perfumes, etc. (9) Physical and Chyrurgical Receipts. (10) The Duty of a Wet Nurse; and to know and cure Diseases in Chirldren, etc. (11) The Compleat Chamber-Maids Instructions in Pickling, making Spoon-meats, Washing, Starching, taking out Spots and Stains, Scowring Gold or Silver-Lace, Point, etc. (12) The Experienced Cook-Maid, or Instructions for Dressing, Garnishing, Making Sawces, serving up; together, with the Art of Pastry. (13) Bills of Fare. (14) The Accomplished Dairy-Maids Directions, etc. (15) The Judicious Midwives Directions, how Women in Travail before and after Delivery ouht to be used; as also the Child; and what relates to the Preservation of them both. To which is added a Second Part, Containing Directions for the guidance of a Young Gentlewoman as to her Behaviour and seemly Deportment, etc. Together with a New Accession of many Curious Things and Matters, profitable to the Female Sex, not published in the former Editions. The Fifth Edition, with Large Additions, Corrected and Amended. LONDON, Printed by W. Wilde, for St. Bodington in Duck Lane; and J. Blare on London Bridge. 1699.
12mo. 1fep. [1] Frontispiece representing a Lady with seven different domestic scenes. Title page with rubbed edges but no loss. [1] A2-A3 Preface signed by John Shirley. 7-168 with 2pages of Pye shapes. 169-192 Second Part. 1fep. Internally lightly age browned throughout. The corners of the text block rounded and sometime cropped close with no loss. It looks like the original full dark brown calf binding has been relaid with the board corners rounded and rubbed. Blind tolling on the boards and spine. With a nice patina.
- This book is crammed. From the busy frontis to the very full title page and the packed text block one gets a feeling this is not so much a cookery book but a novel to be fully read and understood. Daunting.! It would have been better to have had it published in a larger format. How the housewife of that era used this book in a practical way, one wonders. The text is laid out very pragmatically without a thought for style. Oxford states that much of the second part seems to be adapted from Mrs Woolley's 'Gentlewomans Companion'. I'm unable to find a record of the first edition. Oxford cites a second of 1687. The BL also has a fourth edition with large additions of 1696 and a fifth edition with large additions also dated 1696. This copy on view here is also a fifth but dated three years later in 1699. No entries in Pollard & Redgrave STC, Cagle nor Bitting. An extremely rare book in any edition.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 10967

Escoffier. Georges Auguste - Two of Escoffier's menus
From the Carlton Hotel. Pall Mall. London.
Menu 1 -- from the Carlton Grill Room dated May 11th 1909. Menu 2 -- a daily 'Carte du Jour' dated May 10th 1909.
Both menus as new. The ala carte menu has a 1" tear in the fold with no damage to text. Housed in a cardboard, marbled folder with a label on the front cover. Also comes with a black and white photograph of the Carlton Hotel - circa 1910.
- Escoffier was Maitre Chef de Cuisine at the Carlton Hotel from 1899- 1919. These are two of his menus. As such, and in this fine condition, very rare.

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Ephemera category

ref number: 10992

Kriegl. Georg Christof ITEM # 1. Rare. A limited number for VIP guests.
Erb-Huldigung,
ITEM # 1. Welche der Allerdurchleuchtigst-Grobmachtigsten FRAUEN/FRAUEN MARIAE THERESIAE, Zu Hungarn,r und Boheim Konigin, Alls Ertz-Herzogin zu Oesterreich, Von Denen gesammten Nider-Oesterreichischen Standen/ von Tralaten/ Herren/ Rittern/ auch Stadt und Meardten alleruntertbanigft abgeleget Den 22. Novembris Anno 1740. Und auf Verordnung [sec.] ohl-ermelten Loblichen Herren Standen/ mit allen Umstanden ausfuhrlich beschrieden worden Duch Herrn Georg Christoph Kriegl/ einer Lobl. Sci. Dest. Landschaft Syndicum. (Elaborate printer's border device) Gedruckt zu Wienn in Oesterreich, Ben Yohann Baptist Schilgen, einer Hochlobl. Nider-Oesterreichischen Landschaft Buchbrudern.
FIRST AND SOLE EDITION. 17.3"x11" (280x440mm) Large folio. 1fep. Engraved frontispiece of Empress Mariae-Theresiae. [1] Title page in red and black. [1] (1)4-92. 1fep. With eleven beautiful engraved plates; 4 single page, 1 very long extended 3'11" folding plate of the coronation procession, (see image #6 below) and 6 double page (some of them showing the banquets set up for the ceremony guests). The large folding plate has had a tear expertly repaired. The frontispiece slightly brittle at the edges but not affecting the engraving. Internally very clean with wide 2.5" margins. Full contemporary dark brown calf with a blind stamped coat of arms of the Archduchy of Austria in faded gilt on the top board and those of Austria-Enns on the lower board.. A very handsome copy with a nice patina.
- A magnificent book, that is a testimonial work to commemorate the ceremony of homage (Erbhuldigung) a month after the coronation of Mariae Theresa of Austria, on October 20th, 1740, who succeeded to the throne from her father, Charles VI of Habsburg. Printed in a limited number of copies to be distributed to entitled guests. The last 6 of the magnificent engraved copper plates depict richly laid tables for the royal lunch with the guests already at the table and with a list of the entitled ones. The plates engraved by Muller GA from drawings by A. Altomonte, who was architect and engineer of the court. Six of the plates were first used in Gulich’s description of the entry of Joseph 1 on 22nd September, 1705. This is an uncommon and very scarce book. The plates are especially interesting to the cookery book collector, in that they convey the laid tables and lavish banqueting set-up for the highest layer of Austrian society of that time.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11046

LOVEL. HENRY - A medieval chirograph manuscript - 1259.
An esteemed 13th century Royal cook.
In the household of Eleanor of Provence, Queen of England, consort of King Henry III, c.1223-91.
The manuscript is very fine vellum. 242 x 253mm. 24 lines, in a handsome book-hand medieval script in Latin. Indented chirograph deed cut in two proven parts, with one part given to each party. Without a seal. 2 small wormholes, folds, slightly creased, small stain, slightly browned but in remarkable condition bearing in mind the date; 1259. Housed in a strong cardboard folder with marbled paper and large label.
- A charter agreement between Hugh Gernegan and Henry Lovel, the greatly favoured cook of her ladyship the Queen. Hugh has demised to Henry his manor of 'Harpefeld' (actual now: Harpsfield, Hatfield, Hertfordshire) with all its tenants' homages, lands and services; also referring to a rent in St. Albans. as received from Hugh and Ela his wife to farm [lease] for four years from the feast of All Saints to Henry III on 1st. Nov. 1259, for ten marks [£6 13s. 4d.] a year, payable in the King's hall at Westminster. Witnesses: Sir William de Hecham, Robert de Ehelniaresford and others. Quite how Henry Loval came to receive the contents of this charter is not known. Another great gift from the King to Henry Lovel is also mentioned in the Fine Rolls of Henry III. - "5 November 1256, For Master Henry Lovel. The king has granted by his charter to Master Henry Lovel, the queen's cook, a certain place at Crochefeld' in the parish of Bray which contains ten acres and the fourth part of one acre by the king's perch of 20 feet to have to him and his heirs forever, rendering therefor 41d. per annum to the bailiff of Bray who shall be at that time for the king's use for all service etc." We see here that Lovel was already relatively very well-off even before the receiving the contents of the velum manuscript above. - The fine rolls in the reign of King Henry III 1216–1272, was an agreement to pay the king a sum of money for a specified concession. The rolls on which the fines were recorded, provide the earliest systematic evidence of what people and institutions across society wanted from the king and he was prepared to give. The earliest surviving rolls compiled by the English royal chancery exist in almost continuous sequence from 1199. They are preserved in The National Archives at Kew. For Henry III’s reign there are fifty-six rolls, as this one also, are written in Latin on parchment. Since Henry’s regnal year began on 28 October, each roll runs from 28 October in one calendar year to 27 October in the next. Over the course of the King's reign the rolls expanded greatly in length, many having a dozen or more membranes and containing over 30,000 words. They open a large window onto the politics, government, economy and society of England in the hinge period between the establishment of Magna Carta at the start of Henry’s reign and the parliamentary state which was emerging at its end. Eleanor of Provence (c. 1223 – 24/25 June 1291) was a French noblewoman who became Queen consort of England as the wife of King Henry III from 1236 until his death in 1272. She was married at 14 years old. She served as regent of England during the absence of her spouse in 1253 who was away fighting in France. (It was also rumoured that at this time Eleanor granted Henry Lovel a small forested estate). Although she was completely devoted to her husband, and staunchly defended him against the rebel Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, she was very much hated by the Londoners. This was because she had brought many relatives with her to England in her retinue; these were known as "the Savoyards", and they were given influential positions in the government and realm. On one occasion, Eleanor's barge was attacked by angry Londoners who pelted her with stones, mud, pieces of paving, rotten eggs and vegetables. Eleanor had five children, including the future King Edward I of England. She also was renowned for her cleverness, skill at writing poetry, and as a leader of fashion. In 1272 Henry died, and their son Edward became king. She remained in England as queen dowager, and raised several of her grandchildren. She retired in 1286 to Amesbury Priory in Wiltshire, eight miles north of Salisbury. Eleanor died on 24/25 June 1291 at the priory and was buried there. The site of her grave is unknown, making her the only English queen without a marked grave. Her heart was taken to London where it was buried at the Franciscan priory of Greyfriars. It is not recorded when Henry Lovel's period of service started or finished in the Royal kitchens. What is clear, is that he must have been very highly regarded as a servant and cook. He brings to mind Patrick Lamb, another famous royal cook, whose fine cookery book of 1710 (ref:# 11025 on this web-site) mirrors the same royal patronage that elevated Henry Lovel's position in life. Check online; Item # 56 in the Fine Roll C 60/54, 41 Henry 111 -- https://frh3.org.uk/content/calendar/roll_054.html.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11050

Malouin. Par M. - Complete with a full set of plates.
Description et Details des Arts
DU MEUNIER, DU VERMICELIER ET DU BOULENGER; Avec une Histoire abrégée de la Boulengerie, & un Dictonnaire de ces Arts. Par M. MALOUIN. M.DCC.LXVII.
FIRST AND SOLE EDITION. 1767. Large folio. 430x295mm 1fep. Title page. [1] 2pp Table des Titres et Chapitres. (1)2-340. 10pp of Engraved plates; 2pp of the Meunier (Miller) ; 2pp of the Vermicelier (Pasta maker) ; 6pp of the Boulenger (Baker). 1fep. All pages very clean. Contemporary dark brown calf spine with blue marbled boards and calf tips. Spine with raised bands, gilt lines and red gilt label. Externally very slightly rubbed but overall in excellent condition.
- The outstanding full page engraved plates chronicle the methods, equipment and final product of the Miller, Pasta maker and Baker. The book is full of precise instructions pertaining to the three trades, particularly the Baker. It details everything from the quality and storage of the wheat berries to the methods of stone grinding, to the oven construction and equipment used for processing and baking. In an article online called 'The Pristine Loaf' by Hildegard Pickles, there is a chapter detailing the changeover to Yeast. Sour-dough had remained for centuries the only leavening agent for bread making. This was also the case in France, where it represented the sole raising agent, except for cake making purposes for which brewer's yeast was used until pressed yeast replaced it. In the 17th century a fundamental change took place that is chronicled by Malouin in this book. When the changeover to yeast occurred, there was a protest, as the Medical Faculty in Paris did not approve. A resolution taken by them on 24 March 1668 resulted in no majority gained for the use of yeast alone, and only after a further resolution was made by the French parliament on 21 March 1670 were bakers allowed to use yeast. The resolution also demanded that it must be fresh and obtained from a Parisian brewery, and that it should also be mixed with sour-dough. (A typical political decsion trying to appease 3 trades at once and ending up with a mish-mash of a raising agent). The yeast in those days was obviously different and the process was changing and evolving over time. Bakers could no longer rely on the same product and had to evolve as well. One wonders how consistent the loaves were. It must have been a frustrating time for the them individually and as a trade. The beautiful and impressive plates are sometimes found at auction and fetch on their own, silly money. In the complete state with a full compliment of plates, a very rare, fascinating and handsome book.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11087

Anon. - Very rare.
The English and FRENCH COOK:
DESCRIBING The best and newest ways of ordering and dres-sing all sorts of Flesh, Fish and Fowl, whe-ther boiled, baked, stewed, roasted, broiled, frigassied, fryed, souc'd, marrinated, or pickl-ed; with their proper Sauces and Garnishes: Together with all manner of the most ap-proved Soops and Potages used, either in England or France. By T.P. J.P. R.C. N.E. And several other approved Cooks of London and Westminster. LONDON: Printed for Simon Miller at the Star, at the West-end of St. Pauls. 1674.
FIRST EDITION. Small thick 12mo. 1fep (rather brittle and loose) Title page a little browned and cracked at edges, without loss. 2pp The Epistle. 1-430. 431-450 Bills of Fare. 14pp The Table. 8pp Book Advertisements. 1fep. Pages 292-309 missing. Original full calf binding without end-papers, exposed on binders cardboard. The binding is torn at the top of spine without loss. Very lightly age browned throughout. Overall a nice but beaten copy with the original binders stitching just holding the gatherings. With a nice patina.
- Oxford states; This must be the book that was denounced in the third edition of (Varenne's English translation) 'The French Cook'. Oxford further states, 'The English and French Cook' appeared in 1694 under the new title 'The Compleat Cook'. Arber states there is a 1690 edition called the 'The Compleat English and French Cook'. The BL and the Bodleian each have one copy dated 1674. Notaker lists in the US the Folger, Harvard & UW Madison. All editions are extremely rare.

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Antiquarian category

ref number: 11090