"COOKERY MAY PRODUCE SAVOURY AND ELEGANT LOOKING DISHES, WITHOUT THEIR POSSESSING ANY OF THE REAL QUALITIES OF FOODS": FIRST EDITION OF THE COOK AND HOUSEKEEPER'S COMPLETE AND UNIVERSAL DICTIONARY… ADAPTED TO THE USE OF PRIVATE FAMILIES

EATON, Mary. The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in All its Various Branches, Adapted to Use of Private Families. Bungay: J. and R. Childs, 1823. Octavo, contemporary burgundy paper boards rebacked at an early date in brown calf, black morocco spine label. $850.

First edition of this 19th-century culinary dictionary, featuring an A to Z listing of cookery terms, recipes, and helpful tips, with engraved frontispiece portrait, engraved title page, and four engraved plates.

From ACID, lemon ("a good substitute for this expensive article… may be made of a dram of lump sugar pounded, and six drops of lemon essence, to three ounces of crystal vinegar") to YOUNG ONION SAUCE ("Peel a pint of button onions…"), this 19th-century household dictionary covers all aspects of household management from carving meats to dealing with measles. Cagle 661. Bitting, 139. Oxford, 152.

A bit of dampstaining to preliminaries, marginal paper repair to one plate, expected kitchen staining to interior, wear to binding. A very good copy.