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Healths Improvement: or, Rules Comprising and Discovering The Mature, Method, and Manner of Preparing all sorts of Food Used in this Nation. -
Thomas Muffett (Moffett), Christopher Bennet
1655 - Printed by Tho: Newcomb for Samuel Thornton, at the sign of the white Horse in Pauls Churchyard - First Edition
‘Written by that ever Famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick: Corrected and Enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and Fellow of the Colledg of Physitians in London.’
Scarce first edition of this posthumous work, which André Simon said was “probably compiled about 1595. Some chapter headings will give an idea of the scope of this work, which is composed throughout in a gossipy and very readable style. ‘What Diet is’. ‘How it is to be chosen’. ‘Of Meats’. ‘Of the flesh of tame beasts’. ‘Of the flesh of wild fowl’ . . .”
From the collection of noted bibliophile and perfectionist, Brent Gration-Maxfield, with his neat pencil annotation to the front.
See page 154, where Muffett describes the flying fish he was shown by his friend Sir Francis Drake.
The work includes the important observation, made for the first time, that eating liver is beneficial to certain eye diseases. It also contains the first list of British wildfowl, and recognition of their migratory habits.
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Price HK$ 40,000
1655 - Printed by Tho: Newcomb for Samuel Thornton, at the sign of the white Horse in Pauls Churchyard - First Edition
‘Written by that ever Famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick: Corrected and Enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and Fellow of the Colledg of Physitians in London.’Scarce first edition of this posthumous work, which André Simon said was “probably compiled about 1595. Some chapter headings will give an idea of the scope of this work, which is composed throughout in a gossipy and very readable style. ‘What Diet is’. ‘How it is to be chosen’. ‘Of Meats’. ‘Of the flesh of tame beasts’. ‘Of the flesh of wild fowl’ . . .”
From the collection of noted bibliophile and perfectionist, Brent Gration-Maxfield, with his neat pencil annotation to the front.
See page 154, where Muffett describes the flying fish he was shown by his friend Sir Francis Drake.
The work includes the important observation, made for the first time, that eating liver is beneficial to certain eye diseases. It also contains the first list of British wildfowl, and recognition of their migratory habits.
More details
Price HK$ 40,000
De Arte Bibendi, Arte Jocandi, Artis Amandi, Dansandi; Meretricum fides: aliaque faceta. -
Vincentius (Vincent) Obsopoeus ( Heydnecker )
1648 - Typographia Rediviva, Leiden
Contemporarily bound example of this little Rake’s Vade Mecum, containing all a 17th century gentleman about town needed to know.
Beginning with Obsopoeus’ ‘Drinking without getting drunk’, and continuing with numerous important texts such as ‘Practising the Art of Love’, ‘The Art of Amusing Conversation’, ‘Faithful lovers of harlots’; ‘Elogy of a Drunkard’, ‘Rules of Dancing’, and an essay titled ‘Fornicators, gamblers and drunkards have the worst problems: Explained’.
‘This volume, rare and beautifully produced, from the presses of Abraham Commelin, whose mark is on the title page.’ - Willems.
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Price HK$ 10,800
1648 - Typographia Rediviva, Leiden
Contemporarily bound example of this little Rake’s Vade Mecum, containing all a 17th century gentleman about town needed to know.Beginning with Obsopoeus’ ‘Drinking without getting drunk’, and continuing with numerous important texts such as ‘Practising the Art of Love’, ‘The Art of Amusing Conversation’, ‘Faithful lovers of harlots’; ‘Elogy of a Drunkard’, ‘Rules of Dancing’, and an essay titled ‘Fornicators, gamblers and drunkards have the worst problems: Explained’.
‘This volume, rare and beautifully produced, from the presses of Abraham Commelin, whose mark is on the title page.’ - Willems.
More details
Price HK$ 10,800
The Reminiscences of a Gauger -
Joseph Pacy
1873 - Printed by Tomlinsons and Whiles, Newark - First Edition
A rare little autobiography by Joseph Pacy, who rose through the ranks to become Surveyor General Examiner of Excise.
‘I left England for Scotland in 1834, on promotion to a division at Campbelton, a town in Argylshire, noted for its many distilleries’. ‘Campbelton whiskey was somewhat celebrated, and was in great request both in the home and foreign markets. Distilled in still of small size, and made from peat-dried malt, there was a flavour about it peculiar to itself.’ (Chapter V).
Pacy’s next distillery appointment was ‘The Royal Brackla Distillery’, at which ‘the distiller, a retired captain of the army, was as well known as his distillery, by name at least, on account of the disputes he was continually engaged in with the Excise...’ after dealing with Captain William Fraser, the probationary period ends and Pacy is appointed supervisor to the border district of Langholme, in Dumfrieshire.
Pacy eventually reaches the position of Surveyor Genera’ based in London, although he clearly enjoyed his time along the borders more than any other.
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Price HK$ 3,000
1873 - Printed by Tomlinsons and Whiles, Newark - First Edition
A rare little autobiography by Joseph Pacy, who rose through the ranks to become Surveyor General Examiner of Excise.‘I left England for Scotland in 1834, on promotion to a division at Campbelton, a town in Argylshire, noted for its many distilleries’. ‘Campbelton whiskey was somewhat celebrated, and was in great request both in the home and foreign markets. Distilled in still of small size, and made from peat-dried malt, there was a flavour about it peculiar to itself.’ (Chapter V).
Pacy’s next distillery appointment was ‘The Royal Brackla Distillery’, at which ‘the distiller, a retired captain of the army, was as well known as his distillery, by name at least, on account of the disputes he was continually engaged in with the Excise...’ after dealing with Captain William Fraser, the probationary period ends and Pacy is appointed supervisor to the border district of Langholme, in Dumfrieshire.
Pacy eventually reaches the position of Surveyor Genera’ based in London, although he clearly enjoyed his time along the borders more than any other.
More details
Price HK$ 3,000
Mammy Lou's Cook Book - SIGNED -
Betty Benton Patterson
1931 - Robert M. McBride & Company, New York - First Edition
‘Mammy Lou's cook book had to be written, for Mammy Lou is a composite characterisation of all the negro mammies we have known, loved, and lost awhile.’
Signed by the author, 'Cordially - Betty Benton Patterson' on front endpaper. Patterson was a local Houston food writer, whose collection of recipes for meals from the 'old south', and based on her regular newspaper column, bestowed more recognition on African American cooks than any other cook book writer of the era.
Dedicated to Ida Deberry Wheeler. 'Mammy Lou is a composite characterization of all the Negro Mammies we have known, loved and lost a while.' Head notes to many chapters are in Mammy Lou's African-American dialogue. Ms. Patterson wrote the Tuesday food column in the Houston Chronicle 1930s. Creole cabbage with sausage, Mam Jude's bread dressing, crabmeat souffle, honey pecan pie, cherry pie Roanoke, etc.
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Price HK$ 1,000
1931 - Robert M. McBride & Company, New York - First Edition
‘Mammy Lou's cook book had to be written, for Mammy Lou is a composite characterisation of all the negro mammies we have known, loved, and lost awhile.’Signed by the author, 'Cordially - Betty Benton Patterson' on front endpaper. Patterson was a local Houston food writer, whose collection of recipes for meals from the 'old south', and based on her regular newspaper column, bestowed more recognition on African American cooks than any other cook book writer of the era.
Dedicated to Ida Deberry Wheeler. 'Mammy Lou is a composite characterization of all the Negro Mammies we have known, loved and lost a while.' Head notes to many chapters are in Mammy Lou's African-American dialogue. Ms. Patterson wrote the Tuesday food column in the Houston Chronicle 1930s. Creole cabbage with sausage, Mam Jude's bread dressing, crabmeat souffle, honey pecan pie, cherry pie Roanoke, etc.
More details
Price HK$ 1,000
Johnson Over Jordan - The Play. And All About It (An Essay) -
J. B. Priestley
1939 - William Heinemann Ltd, London - First Edition
‘J.B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th Century. And it is time that we all became re-acquainted with his genius’ – Dame Judi Dench
A smartly bound copy of J.B. Priestley’s ‘adventure in theatre’, Johnson Over Jordan – the story of ‘everyman’ Robert Johnson who attempts to make sense of a life half lived – was the play he considered his finest and most ambitious achievement. Also features an essay by Priestly on the writing of the play and its origins, and the critical reception of the stage production.
Illustrated with 8 full page black and white photographic plates of the original 1939 stage production, which starred Ralph Richardson and featured a musical score by Benjamin Britten.
With a black and white photographic portrait of the playwright tipped in to front endpaper and the front panel of the original dust jacket laid in.
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Price HK$ 1,500
1939 - William Heinemann Ltd, London - First Edition
‘J.B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th Century. And it is time that we all became re-acquainted with his genius’ – Dame Judi DenchA smartly bound copy of J.B. Priestley’s ‘adventure in theatre’, Johnson Over Jordan – the story of ‘everyman’ Robert Johnson who attempts to make sense of a life half lived – was the play he considered his finest and most ambitious achievement. Also features an essay by Priestly on the writing of the play and its origins, and the critical reception of the stage production.
Illustrated with 8 full page black and white photographic plates of the original 1939 stage production, which starred Ralph Richardson and featured a musical score by Benjamin Britten.
With a black and white photographic portrait of the playwright tipped in to front endpaper and the front panel of the original dust jacket laid in.
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Price HK$ 1,500
The New Family Receipt-Book -
David Pugh, Maria Rundell
1814 - John Murray, London - A New Edition, Corrected.
A beautifully bound, compact collection of recipes, household advice, and medical tips, this volume includes ingenious articles such as: ‘Easy Method of Curing the Sea-Scurvy’, ’To Increase the Force of Gun-Powder’ and ‘Method of Rendering Assistance to Persons in Danger of Drowing' to name but a few. Helpfully organised into categories such as ’Agriculture', ‘Distilling’ and ‘Pleasing Experiments’.
According to Arnold Oxford (English Cookery Books) this compilation was published to accompany Maria Rundell’s highly successful New System of Domestic Cookery’. Although Oxford states that this was written by Mrs Rundell, it is more likely that the compiler was David Pugh who worked on a number of ‘Family-Receipt’ books for several publishers under the pseudonym of David Hughson.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1814 - John Murray, London - A New Edition, Corrected.
A beautifully bound, compact collection of recipes, household advice, and medical tips, this volume includes ingenious articles such as: ‘Easy Method of Curing the Sea-Scurvy’, ’To Increase the Force of Gun-Powder’ and ‘Method of Rendering Assistance to Persons in Danger of Drowing' to name but a few. Helpfully organised into categories such as ’Agriculture', ‘Distilling’ and ‘Pleasing Experiments’. According to Arnold Oxford (English Cookery Books) this compilation was published to accompany Maria Rundell’s highly successful New System of Domestic Cookery’. Although Oxford states that this was written by Mrs Rundell, it is more likely that the compiler was David Pugh who worked on a number of ‘Family-Receipt’ books for several publishers under the pseudonym of David Hughson.
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Price HK$ 2,800
Le Cuisinier Etranger - with - Le Patissier Imperial -
A. T. Raimbault [pseud. Charles-Yves Cousin d’Avalon]
1813 - Chez Delacour, Paris - Early Edition, Nouvelle Édition Considérablement augmentée.
‘J’ai visité les Cuisines de tout le globe, et j’ai ecrit ces Recettes.’
Rare. Two short works in one.
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Price HK$ 1,900
1813 - Chez Delacour, Paris - Early Edition, Nouvelle Édition Considérablement augmentée.
‘J’ai visité les Cuisines de tout le globe, et j’ai ecrit ces Recettes.’Rare. Two short works in one.
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Price HK$ 1,900
More Scraps - with - Watteau Revisited -
Ronald Searle
2008 - Inky Parrot Press, Oxford - First Edition, Number 65 of 246 Limited Copies
A fine, limited edition two volume set, in original cloth slipcase, of Ronald Searle’s wonderful sketches, and signed by him on the limitation page of More Scraps.
More Scraps collects together a delightful selection of Searle’s previously unpublished sketches and drawings, with a foreword by Ippei Ito and an afterword by Ben Shahn and Groucho Marx. Presented with Watteau Revisited, a series of previously unpublished sketches that Searle created in 1974, when was working on a medallion design for the French Mint. The drawings were later exhibited in 1977, as part of the exhibition ‘Péleringe a Watteau’ at the Hotel de la Monnaie.
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Price HK$ 2,700
2008 - Inky Parrot Press, Oxford - First Edition, Number 65 of 246 Limited Copies
A fine, limited edition two volume set, in original cloth slipcase, of Ronald Searle’s wonderful sketches, and signed by him on the limitation page of More Scraps.More Scraps collects together a delightful selection of Searle’s previously unpublished sketches and drawings, with a foreword by Ippei Ito and an afterword by Ben Shahn and Groucho Marx. Presented with Watteau Revisited, a series of previously unpublished sketches that Searle created in 1974, when was working on a medallion design for the French Mint. The drawings were later exhibited in 1977, as part of the exhibition ‘Péleringe a Watteau’ at the Hotel de la Monnaie.
More details
Price HK$ 2,700