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The Theory and Practice of Brewing - SIGNED -
Michael Combrune
1762 - Printed by J. Haberkorn, London - First Edition
A rare and signed first edition of ‘the most pivotal book in brewing’. With a commendatory preface written by his friend Peter Shaw, physician to the king and experimental scientist with an interest in chemistry.
In 1821, on being asked for the recipe for his ale, Thomas Jefferson replied ‘I have no reciept [sic] for brewing, and I much doubt the operations of malting and brewing could be successfully performed from a reciept. If it could, Combrune's book on the subject would teach the best processes: and perhaps might guide to ultimate success with the sacrifice of 2. or 3. trials. . . . We are now finishing our spring brewing. If you have a capable servt. and he were to attend our fall brewing, so as to get an idea of the manual operation, Combrune's book with a little of your own attention in the beginning might qualify him.’
‘For the longest time, brewing was considered an Art, and a brewer was considered an Artisan. In 1762, Michael Combrune changed the brewing world forever, by publishing The Theory and Practice of Brewing, a book which treated brewing as a Science and not just an Art. Combrune, a professional brewer at the time, was the first person to perceive and document brewing as a science. The Theory and Practice of Brewing is Combrune's theories on brewing and the practical application of these theories applied to brewing beers of the time. Nothing like this book had ever been published.’
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Price HK$ 15,000
1762 - Printed by J. Haberkorn, London - First Edition
A rare and signed first edition of ‘the most pivotal book in brewing’. With a commendatory preface written by his friend Peter Shaw, physician to the king and experimental scientist with an interest in chemistry.In 1821, on being asked for the recipe for his ale, Thomas Jefferson replied ‘I have no reciept [sic] for brewing, and I much doubt the operations of malting and brewing could be successfully performed from a reciept. If it could, Combrune's book on the subject would teach the best processes: and perhaps might guide to ultimate success with the sacrifice of 2. or 3. trials. . . . We are now finishing our spring brewing. If you have a capable servt. and he were to attend our fall brewing, so as to get an idea of the manual operation, Combrune's book with a little of your own attention in the beginning might qualify him.’
‘For the longest time, brewing was considered an Art, and a brewer was considered an Artisan. In 1762, Michael Combrune changed the brewing world forever, by publishing The Theory and Practice of Brewing, a book which treated brewing as a Science and not just an Art. Combrune, a professional brewer at the time, was the first person to perceive and document brewing as a science. The Theory and Practice of Brewing is Combrune's theories on brewing and the practical application of these theories applied to brewing beers of the time. Nothing like this book had ever been published.’
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Price HK$ 15,000
Les Grand Crus Bordelais -
Alfred Danflou
1867 - Librairie Goudin & Typ. Au. Lavertujon, Bordeaux - First Edition in this format (a smaller work was published in 1866 with only 19 photographs of the 1st and 2nd growths)
A rare and remarkable work on Bordeaux, in beautiful condition, two volumes bond in one, containing fifty-five early photographs of the great Châteaux of Bordeaux, with their history, vintages and other contributions, in French.
Of superb quality, the plates of the Châteaux include Lafite, Latour, Mouton, all accompanied by a history and contemporary description of the Châteaux and wine vintages. With a long and interesting commentary on the classifications of first and second Crû, strongly in favour of reclassifying to Premier Cru, Branne-Mouton (purchased and renamed Mouton-Rothschild in 1853 by Baron Rothschild but herein referred to by it’s former name), for which they would have to wait a further century until 1973, and referring to both the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, and London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. There are additional chapters on ‘La Système Féodal Appliqué Aux Vins du Médoc’ and ‘Les Grand Vins de Saint-Émilion’.
A truly important and visually imposing work on Bordeaux and a vital part of any wine book or photographic collection.
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Price HK$ 100,000
1867 - Librairie Goudin & Typ. Au. Lavertujon, Bordeaux - First Edition in this format (a smaller work was published in 1866 with only 19 photographs of the 1st and 2nd growths)
A rare and remarkable work on Bordeaux, in beautiful condition, two volumes bond in one, containing fifty-five early photographs of the great Châteaux of Bordeaux, with their history, vintages and other contributions, in French.Of superb quality, the plates of the Châteaux include Lafite, Latour, Mouton, all accompanied by a history and contemporary description of the Châteaux and wine vintages. With a long and interesting commentary on the classifications of first and second Crû, strongly in favour of reclassifying to Premier Cru, Branne-Mouton (purchased and renamed Mouton-Rothschild in 1853 by Baron Rothschild but herein referred to by it’s former name), for which they would have to wait a further century until 1973, and referring to both the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, and London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. There are additional chapters on ‘La Système Féodal Appliqué Aux Vins du Médoc’ and ‘Les Grand Vins de Saint-Émilion’.
A truly important and visually imposing work on Bordeaux and a vital part of any wine book or photographic collection.
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Price HK$ 100,000
A Date With A Dish: A Cook Book of American Negro Recipes - INSCRIBED -
Freda De Knight
1948 - Hermitage Press, New York - First Edition
'There has long been a need for a non-regional cook book that would contain recipes, menus, and cooking hints from and by Negroes all over America.'
Freda De Knight's classic collection of African-American recipes, with her warm inscription, 'Yours for good eating - Freda C De Knight'. Scarce in such fine condition combined with the inscription.
With a foreword by Gertrude Blair, and cartoon-style drawings by S. Lodico.
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Price HK$ 4,500
1948 - Hermitage Press, New York - First Edition
'There has long been a need for a non-regional cook book that would contain recipes, menus, and cooking hints from and by Negroes all over America.'Freda De Knight's classic collection of African-American recipes, with her warm inscription, 'Yours for good eating - Freda C De Knight'. Scarce in such fine condition combined with the inscription.
With a foreword by Gertrude Blair, and cartoon-style drawings by S. Lodico.
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Price HK$ 4,500
Songs of the Late Charles Dibdin; With A Memoir -
T. Dibdin (Compiler), G. Cruikshank (Illustrator)
1850 - Henry G. Bohn, London - Third Edition
‘I be one of they sailors who think ‘tis no lie,
That for every wherefore of life there’s a why,
That fortune’s strange weather, a calm or a squall,
Our berths, good or bad, are chalk’d out for us all.’
A melodious collection of patriotic sea songs, composed by British writer and dramatist, Charles Dibdin, who according to The Spectator in 1863 is considered to be ‘the only man who ever wrote sea songs that accurately delineate the sailor’s peculiarities of disposition’. Delightfully illustrated with several full page engravings, including frontispiece, by George Cruikshank, and featuring a memoir of Charles Dibdin, Addenda by Thomas Dibdin, Songs from the Works of the Charles Dibdin the younger, and a list of subscribers.
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Price HK$ 1,500
1850 - Henry G. Bohn, London - Third Edition
‘I be one of they sailors who think ‘tis no lie,That for every wherefore of life there’s a why,
That fortune’s strange weather, a calm or a squall,
Our berths, good or bad, are chalk’d out for us all.’
A melodious collection of patriotic sea songs, composed by British writer and dramatist, Charles Dibdin, who according to The Spectator in 1863 is considered to be ‘the only man who ever wrote sea songs that accurately delineate the sailor’s peculiarities of disposition’. Delightfully illustrated with several full page engravings, including frontispiece, by George Cruikshank, and featuring a memoir of Charles Dibdin, Addenda by Thomas Dibdin, Songs from the Works of the Charles Dibdin the younger, and a list of subscribers.
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Price HK$ 1,500
The Cook's Dictionary -
Richard Dolby
1830 - Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, London - First Edition
An uncommon copy of the first edition of The Cook’s Dictionary, considered the first cookery book to be arranged alphabetically. This wonderful compendium of delicacies – compiled by 19th century chef Richard Dolby of the Thatched-House Tavern on St. James Street and a popular domestic reference of its time – contains several thousand entries and many recipes for cooking, baking, and brewing that had never before appeared in print.
Features a glossary of cooking terms, and a number of alphabetical tables listing fish, crustaceans, fowl, fruit and vegetables, and when they are in season.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1830 - Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, London - First Edition
An uncommon copy of the first edition of The Cook’s Dictionary, considered the first cookery book to be arranged alphabetically. This wonderful compendium of delicacies – compiled by 19th century chef Richard Dolby of the Thatched-House Tavern on St. James Street and a popular domestic reference of its time – contains several thousand entries and many recipes for cooking, baking, and brewing that had never before appeared in print.Features a glossary of cooking terms, and a number of alphabetical tables listing fish, crustaceans, fowl, fruit and vegetables, and when they are in season.
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Price HK$ 2,800
Night Clubs -
Jimmy Durante, Jack Kofoed
1931 - Alfred A. Knopf, New York - First Edition
Inscribed by Jimmy Durante ‘To Anne – a pleasure to know you – Jimmy Durante, Mar 30-42’.
This is not a ‘guide’, it contains anecdotes, characters, deals, entertainers and speakeasy challenges that only someone deeply connected with the scene could piece together, and if anyone knew the night clubs of New York it was the great entertainer Jimmy ‘Schnozzola’ Durante. Performing from 17 in Coney Island dives, Manhattan slums and gangster hangouts in Harlem, moving from a Mafia club ‘The Alamo’ to open his own small establishment ‘The Durant’ (the signmaker forgot to paint the ‘e’), but this was prohibition and soon after they were raided. Durante with his by now well known partners Eddie Jackson and Lou Clayton, moved on from there to become one of the all-time great night club acts. All this before becoming a film star, radio star, and television star.....
Illustrated with 16 photographs, illustrated title page and endpapers. The fabulous and rather risqué dust jacket was illustrated by Herbert Roese.
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Price HK$ 9,000
1931 - Alfred A. Knopf, New York - First Edition
Inscribed by Jimmy Durante ‘To Anne – a pleasure to know you – Jimmy Durante, Mar 30-42’.This is not a ‘guide’, it contains anecdotes, characters, deals, entertainers and speakeasy challenges that only someone deeply connected with the scene could piece together, and if anyone knew the night clubs of New York it was the great entertainer Jimmy ‘Schnozzola’ Durante. Performing from 17 in Coney Island dives, Manhattan slums and gangster hangouts in Harlem, moving from a Mafia club ‘The Alamo’ to open his own small establishment ‘The Durant’ (the signmaker forgot to paint the ‘e’), but this was prohibition and soon after they were raided. Durante with his by now well known partners Eddie Jackson and Lou Clayton, moved on from there to become one of the all-time great night club acts. All this before becoming a film star, radio star, and television star.....
Illustrated with 16 photographs, illustrated title page and endpapers. The fabulous and rather risqué dust jacket was illustrated by Herbert Roese.
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Price HK$ 9,000
“Tried Favourites.” Being a collection of Recipes by some Mamsahibs of Bombay together with Menus and useful Information to House=keepers of both sexes -
Mrs. Fett
1928 - Published in aid of A Special Branch of Y.W.C.A. Work. Printed at The Industrial Press, Bombay - First Edition
‘When the Memsahib has chewed off the end of her pencil in her effort to think of “something different” – and when the cook has achieved his blankest and most aloof expression then will this little book be triumphantly brought forth and opened at the “MENU” pages, and calm will be restored ! !’
Rare little work, which not only provides recipes and menus but also prie lists of the Bombay market, details on domestic servants, stores, and more. With a number of wonderfully illustrated advertisements targeting the modern Memsahib.
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Price HK$ 900
1928 - Published in aid of A Special Branch of Y.W.C.A. Work. Printed at The Industrial Press, Bombay - First Edition
‘When the Memsahib has chewed off the end of her pencil in her effort to think of “something different” – and when the cook has achieved his blankest and most aloof expression then will this little book be triumphantly brought forth and opened at the “MENU” pages, and calm will be restored ! !’Rare little work, which not only provides recipes and menus but also prie lists of the Bombay market, details on domestic servants, stores, and more. With a number of wonderfully illustrated advertisements targeting the modern Memsahib.
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Price HK$ 900
Traité sur les Vins du Médoc -
Wm. Franck
1864 - P. Chaumas, Bordeaux - Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged
The first ‘Bible of Bordeaux’, first published in 1824 and frequently revised until its final publication in 1871, and the forerunner of the better known Bordeaux wine directory created by Cocks & Feret. This is ‘the first major book dealing solely with the wines of Bordeaux’ (Jancis Robinson - Oxford Companion to Wine.), and one of the first Bordeaux classifications.
The fifth edition with twenty-nine full-page illustrations of the Chateaux (13 two-tone lithographs, 1 monochrome lithograph, 15 woodcuts), three woodcut title pages, one woodcut scene of the vendage, two partially coloured full page maps, and the large folding colour map titled Carte du Département de la Gironde. 53x71.5cm (in pocket at rear). In addition to the illustrations are numerous tables (six folding).
The wine classification listed (pages 209-16] is the one ‘drawn up in 1855 by the association of commercial [wine] brokers at the Bordeaux Stock Exchange, and at the request of the Chamber of Commerce’.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1864 - P. Chaumas, Bordeaux - Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged
The first ‘Bible of Bordeaux’, first published in 1824 and frequently revised until its final publication in 1871, and the forerunner of the better known Bordeaux wine directory created by Cocks & Feret. This is ‘the first major book dealing solely with the wines of Bordeaux’ (Jancis Robinson - Oxford Companion to Wine.), and one of the first Bordeaux classifications.The fifth edition with twenty-nine full-page illustrations of the Chateaux (13 two-tone lithographs, 1 monochrome lithograph, 15 woodcuts), three woodcut title pages, one woodcut scene of the vendage, two partially coloured full page maps, and the large folding colour map titled Carte du Département de la Gironde. 53x71.5cm (in pocket at rear). In addition to the illustrations are numerous tables (six folding).
The wine classification listed (pages 209-16] is the one ‘drawn up in 1855 by the association of commercial [wine] brokers at the Bordeaux Stock Exchange, and at the request of the Chamber of Commerce’.
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Price HK$ 6,000