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. Provenance: From noted collector Brent Gration-Maxfield, whose collections were sold through a number of Sotheby’s sale beginning in 1969 and ending in 1981. This book was in the Sotheby’s auction of 23rd November 1970 (Collection of printed books mainly of the 17th and 18th centuries; the property of Brent Gration-Maxfield, Esq) and sold to W.F. Hammond.
Reference: Crahan, 116 uncommon Books on Food and Drink, 83. Bitting, Gastronomic Bibliography 327. Vicaire, Bibliographie Gastronomique, 613. Oxford, English Cookery Books, 27. André Simon, Bibliotheca Gastronomica 1063. Wing M2382. Pennell, My Cookery Books 133.
Small quarto (binding size 19 x 14.8 cm) pp. [2] 8, 296 [2]. With ’Imprimatur’ leaf facing title page. Collated and correct (lj 2/2018). In fine mid-20th century full calf, spine ruled in gilt, twin burgundy morocco title labels, boards with twin fillet border in blind, blind inner dentelles Condition: Near fine, offset toning to outer edges of first and last few pages, 1cm chip to corner of page 201, 2mm creasing to lower edge of page 211, archival repair to tear on lower edge of page 221, in fine binding. Ref: 109290 Price: HK$ 40,000
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. Provenance: From noted collector Brent Gration-Maxfield, whose collections were sold through a number of Sotheby’s sale beginning in 1969 and ending in 1981. This book was in the Sotheby’s auction of 23rd November 1970 (Collection of printed books mainly of the 17th and 18th centuries; the property of Brent Gration-Maxfield, Esq) and sold to W.F. Hammond.
Reference: Crahan, 116 uncommon Books on Food and Drink, 83. Bitting, Gastronomic Bibliography 327. Vicaire, Bibliographie Gastronomique, 613. Oxford, English Cookery Books, 27. André Simon, Bibliotheca Gastronomica 1063. Wing M2382. Pennell, My Cookery Books 133.
Small quarto (binding size 19 x 14.8 cm) pp. [2] 8, 296 [2]. With ’Imprimatur’ leaf facing title page. Collated and correct (lj 2/2018). In fine mid-20th century full calf, spine ruled in gilt, twin burgundy morocco title labels, boards with twin fillet border in blind, blind inner dentelles Condition: Near fine, offset toning to outer edges of first and last few pages, 1cm chip to corner of page 201, 2mm creasing to lower edge of page 211, archival repair to tear on lower edge of page 221, in fine binding. Ref: 109290 Price: HK$ 40,000