ACCUM, Friedrich Christian (1769-1838)

First edition of this classic work on the chemistry of cookery, with hand-coloured frontispiece and title vignette illustrating stoves and cooking utensils, and chapters on such subjects as ‘Difference between an epicure and a glutton,’ ‘Extraordinary great Eaters, and observations on Abstinence,’ and ‘Remarks on the origin of the custom of Eating Flesh’. Accum's early chemical training was at the apothecary's shop of Brande in Hanover, before coming to London in 1793 and taking up work at the Brande pharmacy in Arlington Street, Brande at that time serving as apothecary to George III. Bitting p.2; Oxford 150; Vicaire 4.

12mo (74 x 105mm). Hand-coloured engraved frontispiece and title vignette (a few minor spots and faint creasing to one corner). Contemporary half calf over marbled boards (rebacked by the Ipsley Bindery preserving most of original spine, corners slightly rubbed). Provenance: unidentified armorial bookplate with motto ‘Laus Deo’ – John E. Herring (ownership inscription dated 1862 on front pastedown) – Cooks Books, Brighton (bookseller’s label on rear pastedown) – Albert Roux (bookplate on front endpaper).