The Art of Cookery, In Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry. With some Letters to Dr. Lister, and Others: Occasion'd principally by the Title of a Book publish'd by the Doctor, being the Works of Apicius Coelius, Concerning the Soups and Sauces of the Antients. With an Extract of the greatest Curiosities contain'd in that Book. To which is added, Horace's Art of Poetry, in Latin. By the Author of the Journey to London. Humbly Inscrib'd to the Honourable Beef Steak Club.
London: Printed for Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys between the two Temple Gates in Fleet-Street. [1708].
Octavo, 160 pages. FIRST AUTHORIZED EDITION. Cagle, cites Foxon, indicating an unauthorized folio edition published in 1707. The book consists of letters to Dr. Lister and others, followed by parallel editions of Horace's Art of Poetry, and King's Art of Cookery. The poem is the author's satire on Lister's translation of Apicius. The author himself became a target for this work. Swift referred to him as a "poor starving wit", and Elizabeth Pennell used Pope's line to describe his verse as written "in a tavern three hours after he could not speak." Near fine in blind and gilt-stamped burgundy cloth. With the bookplate of Pamela Lister, descendant of Dr. Lister, subject of the author's ridicule. [Bitting, page 260; Cagle 794; Maclean, page 84; Oxford, page 51; Pennell, page 142-3].
Price: $750.00