The Lady's Complete Guide; or, Cookery in all its Branches. Containing The most approved Receipts, confirmed by Observation and Practice; in every reputable English Book of Cookery now extant... Also The Complete Brewer... Likewise The Family Physician; By Mrs. Mary Cole, Cook to the Right Hon. The Earl of Drogheda. The third edition very much improved.
London: G. Kearsley, 1791.
Octavo (21 x 13 cm.). Ivi, 11-460 pages. Index. Third Edition, "very much improved". First published in 1788, The Lady's Complete Guide ran to 564 pages. The revised second and third editions were expanded in content, but were reset to allow more lines to a page; the second edition contained 564 pages and this third edition was "very much improved" according to the title page. The pioneering cookery book by Mary Cole (fl 1788-1791), the first in English that systematically ascribed recipes to their authors, where known. Cole believed previous cookery book writers had not 'candidly acknowledged their obligations'. Much of The Lady's Complete Guide was given to thirty chapters describing techniques and giving recipes for roasting, boiling, "made-dishes" (of beef, lamb, game etc.), frying, broiling, potting, fricassees, ragouts, soups, sauces, of Brewing and The Family Physician. Contemporary sheep, rebacked. Spine ruled in gilt, black morocco label lettered in gilt. Near fine. [Bitting, page 94 (citing the 1788 first edition); Oxford, page 118 (citing the 1789 second edition)].
Price: $750.00