The Savoy Cocktail Book - Being in the main a compendium of the Cocktails, Rickeys, Daisies, Slings, Shrubs, Smashes, Fizzes, Juleps, Cobblers, Fixes, and other Drinks, known and vastly appreciated in this year of grace 1930, with sundry notes of the amusement and interest concerning them, together with subtle Observations upon Wines and their special occasions. Being in the particular an elucidation of the Manners and Customs of people of quality in a period of some equality. The Cocktail Recipes in this Book have been compiled by Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel London. -
Harry Craddock
1930 - Constable &, London - First Edition
An exceedingly uncommon bright and shiny first edition of the Mixologist’s Bible. Featuring 750 cocktails, with marvellous art-deco colour illustrations and decorations throughout by Gilbert Rumbold, in original art-deco illustrated covers, using a shiny gold foil transfer which on this copy is bright and sharp. A lovely example without the internal stains, badly damaged covers, and rubbed off spine lettering, to which it is usually prone.
This particular copy is ‘Dedicated, that is, to the heretic, but, nevertheless with all best wishes. St John White. The Savoy 17/x/30’
Harry Craddock left the United States during Prohibition and came to the Savoy in 1920. He became the star of the American Bar and is credited with inventing the White Lady and popularised classics such as the Dry Martini.
‘The way to drink a cocktail is quickly, while it's still laughing at you.’ A fascinating record of the cocktails that set London alight at the time – and which are just as popular today. From Slings to Smashes, Fizzes to Flips, and featuring art deco illustrations, Harry Craddock was ‘the king of cocktail shakers,’ and The Savoy Cocktail Book contains humorous anecdotes on the origin of the cocktail and its purpose (’for the solace of man’), as well as ‘an elucidation of the Manners and Customs of people of quality in a period of some equality’. - GQ Magazine.
With the Pegu Club Cocktail on page 120, ‘The Favourite Cocktail of the Pegu club, Burma,and one that has travelled, and is asked for, round the world.'
First edition, no statements of printing dates to verso of dedication page, date 1930 to title page, full use of gilt foil to covers, errata slip before page 25, page numbers to half-title and title page. Note, there was also a limited signed edition published at the same time consisting of approximately 250 numbered copies, with a different design to the outer boards.
Reference: Simon Khachadourian, The Cocktail Shaker 56.
Octavo (book size 19.8x13.6cm), pp. [6] 7-286 [2]. In publisher’s black cloth spine lettered in gilt, paper covered boards, front board illustrated and lettered in foil, additional colouring in green, yellow, black and grey, rear board with gilt foil covering, art-deco endpapers in red white beige and blue. Condition: Near fine, neatly re-cased, retaining the original spine. Ref: 112340 Price: HK$ 25,000
This particular copy is ‘Dedicated, that is, to the heretic, but, nevertheless with all best wishes. St John White. The Savoy 17/x/30’
Harry Craddock left the United States during Prohibition and came to the Savoy in 1920. He became the star of the American Bar and is credited with inventing the White Lady and popularised classics such as the Dry Martini.
‘The way to drink a cocktail is quickly, while it's still laughing at you.’ A fascinating record of the cocktails that set London alight at the time – and which are just as popular today. From Slings to Smashes, Fizzes to Flips, and featuring art deco illustrations, Harry Craddock was ‘the king of cocktail shakers,’ and The Savoy Cocktail Book contains humorous anecdotes on the origin of the cocktail and its purpose (’for the solace of man’), as well as ‘an elucidation of the Manners and Customs of people of quality in a period of some equality’. - GQ Magazine.
With the Pegu Club Cocktail on page 120, ‘The Favourite Cocktail of the Pegu club, Burma,and one that has travelled, and is asked for, round the world.'
First edition, no statements of printing dates to verso of dedication page, date 1930 to title page, full use of gilt foil to covers, errata slip before page 25, page numbers to half-title and title page. Note, there was also a limited signed edition published at the same time consisting of approximately 250 numbered copies, with a different design to the outer boards.
Reference: Simon Khachadourian, The Cocktail Shaker 56.
Octavo (book size 19.8x13.6cm), pp. [6] 7-286 [2]. In publisher’s black cloth spine lettered in gilt, paper covered boards, front board illustrated and lettered in foil, additional colouring in green, yellow, black and grey, rear board with gilt foil covering, art-deco endpapers in red white beige and blue. Condition: Near fine, neatly re-cased, retaining the original spine. Ref: 112340 Price: HK$ 25,000