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. - Harry Craddock 1930 - Constable &, London - First Edition An uncommon bright and sharp first edition of this Art-Deco highlight and legendary 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 is usually encountered in a poor state.

The way to drink a cocktail is quickly, while it's still laughing at you.’

Harry Craddock (1876–1963) was an Englishman who became one of the most famous bartenders of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Stroud, Gloucestershire, Craddock moved to the United States in 1897, where he worked at Cleveland's Hollenden Hotel and New York's Knickerbocker Hotel and Hoffman House, becoming a United States citizen. He left America during Prohibition and sailed to Liverpool with his wife and daughter before joining the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London, 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.
  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.

First edition, no statements of printing dates to verso of dedication page, date 1930 to title page. First issue, our opinion, without the errata slip on page 25 modifying the Bacardi Special Cocktail to simply Bacardi Cocktail, and half title through to title page unnumbered. One of two variants, this one with the full page advertisements for Booth’s Dry Gin inserted before the title page, and additional ads tipped in opposite pages 76 and 148. Note, there was also a limited signed edition consisting of approximately 250 numbered copies, with a less striking cover design.

Reference: Simon Khachadourian,
The Cocktail Shaker 56.

Octavo (book size 19.8x13.7cm), pp. [2] [4 (tipped in Booth’s ads)] [4] 7-76 [2 (tipped in Booth’s ad)] 77-148 [2 (tipped in Booth’s ad)] 149-286 [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: Some very light scattered foxing to pages and page edges, else fine, in near fine boards, with little of the usual rubbing affecting the gilt, and gilt to spine bright.   Ref: 111766   Price: HK$ 18,000