The Experienced English House-keeper. For the Use and Ease of Ladies, The House-keepers, Cooks, &c., Wrote Purely from Practice. Dedicated to the Hon. Lady Elizabeth Warburton, Whom the Author lately served as Housekeeper... The Seventh Edition.
London: Printed for the author, and sold by R. Baldwin, No. 47, in Pater-noster Row. 1780.
Octavo, iii, [1], 412, xiv pages. Two engraved folding plates of table settings, and one folding plate of stove fires. Stated seventh edition. One of the most celebrated and popular of 18th century cookery books, placing the author in the same sphere as Hannah Glasse. In addition to her position as housekeeper to Lady Warburton, Raffald operated the Bull's Head Pub in Manchester, and the King's Head in Salford, both notable inns, helped found a newspaper, operated a confectionery shop and ran a cooking school. All this after having provided her husband, John Raffald, with many daughters (as many as sixteen depending on your source). Among the interesting recipes is one "To spin a Silver Web for covering Sweet Meats", and "Directions for a Grand Table." Previous owner's name inked to title page, and the author's signature to page one, in an attempt to foil the cookbook pirates. Starting with the Eighth Edition of 1782, the signature on page one is a facsimile. Internally there is a fair amount of light to medium foxing throughout. Bound in tree calf, and rebacked in compartmented, gilt-decorated and titled calf. [Cagle 944 (earlier edition); Maclean, page 121; Oxford, page 99].
Price: $1,200.00