[Patent Medicine Receipt Book – A.L. Scovill & Company (New York); Amon L. Scovill]

The Family Receipt Book & useful medical adviser. 1852, For gratuitous distribution, to be had gratis of all our agents. [Title from wrapper].

[New York]: Published annually by A.L. Scovill & Co, 1851.

Stab-sewn booklet (19 x 12 cm.), 36 pages. Illustrated wrapper signed, Forbes del. N. Orr. Other illustrations engraved by F.A. E. and N. Orr. The OCLC record cites a printer's statement on page [4] of the wrapper, "Printed by E.N. Grossman & Son., 59 Ann-Street, New-York." We find no such statement anywhere on this copy. Evident FIRST EDITION of the first issue of this series of household medical almanacs. We've been unable to locate an earlier Scovill almanac. Consists of receipts, testimonials and advertisements for patent and proprietary medicines sold by A.L. Scovill & Co. Publisher's notice (page 1) states, "This 'Family receipt book' is to be published annually. Its object is to explain, in a familiar manner, what every mother may do for her children, or her family, in cases of emergency, or in ordinary complaints, where it would be inconvenient or impossible to obtain the services of a doctor ... The volume for 1853 will contain matters of interest to the farmer, the gardener, the kitchen, the toilet, etc." Includes "An Indian's Testimony, Kah-ge-gah-ga-bowh, or George Copway, the Indian Chief... gives the interesting particulars of the case of Miss R___, of this city, who was cured of a severe and protracted disease of teh lungs, by a few bottles of Dr. Rogers invaluable syrup of Liverwort, Tar, and Canchalagua..."(page 8). Bit of predation to the bottom left corner of wrapper and first few leaves. Some dog-ears; damp-staining and light stains to a few pages. In publisher's printed wrappers, a bit soiled and edgeworn. Good. [OCLC locates six copies].

Price: $90.00