Description
8vo, 493pp. Hardcover in original green cloth with gilt lettering on red background to a very sound and tight though lightly faded spine with a pictorial design on front board in red with t.e. red as well, plus top and bottom of spine are slightly frayed with light shelfwear to edges of both boards. Also all edges are tanned with minor stains on fore-edge that don’t migrate to the underlying pages. A rare first impression English price-clipped pictorial d/w has minor chipping on all edges though mainly on the top and bottom of the spine with the d/w still clean and bright however. So both boards and d/w remain in very good condition and are now protected in clear archival covering, text is in a very good state with no prior owner notations anywhere other than a neat name in pen on ffep but the pages are all lightly age-tanned and both front and rear endpapers are significantly stained with brown adhesive tape markings from an old prior plastic covering that has also involved both d/w flaps in four spots. Overall then the book is in at least very good condition or better. Probably her most famous book with information on cooking in rural France and on spices and condiments which is as valuable as the recipes. For the cook and collector, one of the classics of gastronomic literature as David is now recognised for her profound influence on British culinary culture. Arguably still the best writer on food and drink that England has ever produced.