The Prudent Housewife, or Compleat English Cook; Being the newest Collection of the most genteel and least expensive Recipes in every Branch of Cookery, viz. Going to Market; for Roasting, Boiling, Frying, Hashing, Stewing, Broiling, Baking, and Fricasseeing. Also, for Making Puddings, Custards, Cakes, Cheese Cakes, Pies, Tartsm Ragouts, Soups, Jellies, Syllabubs, &c... Twentieth Edition.
London: Sabine and Son, no. 81 Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, [circa 1800].
Octavo, 120 pages. Some woodcut illustrations in the text. Stated twentieth edition. One of the most popular of English eighteenth-century cookbooks. Lydia Fisher was "Late cook and House-keeper to the Duke of Newcastle, Marquis of Rickingham &c. upward of 50 years" (later, 24th edition). The dating of editions of this book is debated, with some early catalogue entries placing most of the twenty-five printings prior to 1800, and more recent estimates placing many afterwards. This copy has been neatly rebound in paper-covered boards over a brown cloth spine, with a printed paper label. The interior exhibits some foxing and a few small wormholes. Puncture marks from a prior binding are on exhibit in the gutter. Despite the popularity of this work and its many printings, copies remain scarce. [No copies of this edition located; Cagle 684 (12th edition); Bitting, page 159 (4th ed.); OCLC locates three copies (15th, 25th and 24th eds.); and COPAC locates three copies].
Price: $2,000.00