"ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING AUTHORITIES ON FOOD AND WINE"

SIMON, André L. The Art of Good Living. A Contribution to the better Understanding of Food and Drink together with a Gastronomic Vocabulary and a Wine Dictionary. London: Constable, 1929. Octavo, original half vellum and marbled paper boards, uncut. $350.

Signed limited first edition of Simon's lively and informative guide, number 300 of only 300 copies signed by him, with color frontispiece and eleven full-page black-and-white illustrations.

"One of the world's leading authorities on food and wine," Simon was born in France but lived most of his life in England. Trained as an apprentice in the de Polignae champagne business, he "learned the wine business thoroughly. At the turn of the century, the de Polignae family sent him to London to establish sales of Pommery & Greno champagne…[and] he was credited with stimulating the partiality of the British for champagne." Founder and longtime president of the International Wine and Food Society, Simon authored many definitive works, including authoritative bibliographies and a multi-volume Encyclopedia of Gastronomy. In both his life and his writings, he "taught people to enjoy wine with food, trying to encourage hotels, restaurants, chefs and others to incorporate flair and taste and imagination in presentation of foods" (New York Times). "The art of good living," he writes, "is above all a matter of appreciation… To get the best fare and the best wine, one must trust one's judgment without ever being self-opinionated; one must trust others whose business it is to know and who duty it is to help." Forward by Maurice Healy. With "A Gastronomic Vocabulary" and "A Wine Dictionary." Leaf of publisher's advertisement at rear. Cagle 988. Bitting, 436. Trace of tape from bookplate removal.

Only faint soiling to vellum as often. A fine copy.