Handbook of Practical Cookery
New and enlarged edition In which special prominence is given to the preparing of New Cakes, Jellies, etc; to the very simple recipes for Cottage Cookery; also to various modes of preparing food for the Sickroom BY MATILDA LEES DODOS Diplomee of the S.K. School of Cookery With an Introduction on the Philosophy of Cookery London: EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE (BIBLE WAREHOUSE). Ltd., 33, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. Edinburgh and New York 1906
44 x 54 mm. Marbled front paste-down but no fep. Half-title. [1] Title Page. [1] Preface v-xii. Contents xiii-xiv. [1] p34. Diagrams of Meat cuts (with the engraving on the recto with the versos blank) [1] p51 Plates of made dishes with blank versos. [1] xvii-Ixix Directions for Carving and Philosophy of Cooking. [1] Pp 1+2-795. [1] 1+798-836. [1] Marbled fep and paste-down. The stitching in the text block is split in the middle but holding well and not affecting the spine. The spine has a small split on the bottom left seam but holding and not affecting anything. All pages and text on very fine India paper. Original full red cloth covered in bright gilt lines, design and lettering. With a small dark stain on the back covers, but not detracting. The front cover has a beautiful silver cover attached of a old fashioned camp cooking pot hung from a tripod over an open fire. Very slightly rubbed edges to covers and ends of spine. Overall a very nice bright copy with the fine very scarce silver front cover .
- Copies in this bright red cover are much scarcer than the others bound in maroon and black. There are also copies bound in light emerald green that are also very rare. The first edition of Lees Dods's work appeared in 1881. All copies of this miniature edition are charming and this one has a rare original red cover. Louis Bondy in his fascinating book on the history of miniatures describes this as "the most extensive cookery book in miniature" (Louis Bondy, Miniature Books. p.139) The red cover is very scarce but with the finely crafted embossed cover attached it becomes altogether very rare and collectable.
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Modern category
ref number:
11119