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A Treatise on Cyder-Making - Hugh Stafford, Anonymous

1753 - Printed for E. Cave, London - First Edition
Legendary and rare first edition of this anonymous work, all of which is generally but erroneously attributed to Hugh Stafford who contributed the sixteen page ‘Dissertation on Cyder and Cyder-Fruit’ at the beginning.

Covering the entire process from identifying and growing the best cider apples, collection, pressing, fermentation, racking, preserving and remedial action for a variety of issues ‘
which are incident to Cyder’. With fold-out engraving of cider press (opp. p.32), in-text wood-cut diagrams to pages 43 and 68 (‘One side of the framed Press...’.) and wood-cut decorations to pages v, 47, and 61.

As Cyder therefore is generally allowed to be an wholesome drink, and as it is the natural product of our own country, he will surely be thought to contribute something towards the good of the public, who gives infallible directions for making it universally agreeable by varrying it so as to suit every palate, and by improving the flavour and the quality, both of the rough and the smooth, divesting it of its tendency to produce cholics, and giving it the sparkle of Champaign, without an eager and windy fermentation, and rendering it more spirituous than a small wine tho' less inflaming’. [Preface]

An influential work, Benjamin Franklin, who was partial to a drop himself, ordered three copies to be reprinted as pamphlets and distributed amongst the New England farmers after failing with their vineyards. It was plagiarised into various publications including encyclopaedias, cookbooks and later reference works related to cider.
 
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Price HK$ 42,000



Scar-Strangled Banger - Ralph Steadman

1988 - Salem House Publishers, Massachusetts - First American Edition
Scar Strangled Banger is one of two large books (the other one being America) giving Steadman's view of America in retrospect-sharply satirizing all aspects of 1970’s and 1980’s life in American society, peppered with his sharp, powerful and incredible full-page and double-spread, colour and black & white drawings.

‘In
Scar-Strangled Banger, Ralph Steadman turns his satirical attentions to America, the Land of the Free, where even God can be acquired with a credit card. In this land of seemingly limitless opportunities, of All-Nite Liquor stores, aerobic work-outs, silicone lifts and Saturday Night Specials, a country where lettuce is served with everything, he finds that the quality of life is dependent mainly on personal wealth and air conditioning.

This extraordinary collection of paintings and drawings, in colour and black and white, gleefully satirizes all aspects of life in modern America. Whether it be people, places or politics, nothing is safe from Ralph Steadman’s razor sharp pen and even sharper wit. Nixon is “a satirists dream”, Texas is where “ the oil wells are so deep they have lease land rights from the Australian government before they drill” and political conventions are “campaigns in the ass”. His portraits of the Nixon years, Vietnam and Watergate, the Reagan years, Pearlygate and the 1988 Presidential Election are powerful, disturbing and above all savagely funny. It will leave you asking has anything really changed.’
 
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Price HK$ 1,000



The Honours of the Table - John Trusler, John Bewick (illustrator)

1791 - for the author, London - Second Edition
Of all the graceful accomplishments, and of every branch of polite education, it has long been admitted, that a gentleman and a lady never shew themselves to more advantage, than in acquitting themselves well in the honours of their table; that is to say, in serving their guests and treating their friends agreeable to their rank and situation in life.

A scarce copy of this wonderful little work, first published in 1788, in the original marbled paper boards and illustrated with twenty-seven woodcuts by John Bewick, including wood-engraved Trusler coat-of-arms. Bound with the complete 12 page ‘List of Books by the Rev. Dr, Trusler, At the Literary-Press, No. 62, Wardour Street, Soho. 1792’’.

Reverend Trusler was a prolific author whose eclectic output included everything from tips on gardening to commentaries on Hogarth engravings.
 
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Price HK$ 10,000



The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness - T. Tryon

1697 - -, London - Third Edition
‘Communicated to the World for General Good’ - the third edition ‘To which is added a Discourse of the Philosophers Stone, or Universal Medicine, Discovering the Cheats and Abuses of those Chymical Pretenders"

My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity. I made myself acquainted with Tryon's manner of preparing some of his dishes, such as boiling potatoes or rice, making hasty pudding, and a few others, and then proposed to my brother, that if he would give me, weekly, half the money he paid for my board, I would board myself. He instantly agreed to it, and I presently found that I could save half what he paid me. This was an additional fund for buying books.’ - Benjamin Franklin.

A rare and influential work on health and diet, i.a. promoting vegetarianism with regard to animal welfare and as a healthy lifestyle.
 
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Price HK$ 18,000



La Vigne - Voyage Autour des Vins de France - Charles Albert Vicomte d'Arnoux Bertall

1878 - E. Plon et Cie., Paris - First Edition
A superb example of this richly illustrated wine book landmark, text in French, with numerous humorous anecdotes about winemakers, merchants, innkeepers... Housed in the publisher’s luxury full red morocco binding.

The author and illustrator ‘Bertall’ is the pseudonym of the designer, caricaturist and photographer Charles Albert Vicomte d'Arnoux (1820-1882), who provides 95 full page captioned illustrations and close to 400 in-text wood-engraved illustrations.

The a vast array of illustrations by ‘Bertall’ are combined with an interesting potpourri of French viniana. For example, wines are divided into three big categories: white wines, red wines and blue wines, matching the French national colours. The whites are generally luxury wines, from Chablis and Saumur to Champagne and Sauterne - wines of the rich. Red wines are for general use and for tasting, they make glad the heart and the mind, etc. Blue wines are the wines of the workers and of those who prefer not to work, wines warm in the gut but hard on the gullet, good for vitality in moderation, but bad when taken to excess [pages 23-24].
 
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Price HK$ 8,000



A History of Champagne - Henry Vizetelly

1882 - Vizetelly &, London - First Edition
A superb example of the finest work ever presented on Champagne. Tracing the history of champagne and it’s wine over 1,800 years. Strikingly illustrated with 350 engravings, including numerous illustrations from ancient manuscripts and 200 original sketches made under the author's supervision. With folding coloured lithograph map showing the vineyards of Champagne. In the publishers elegant gilt pictorial binding.

The first part of the book is historical, champagne from its origins, its progress in the 14th century, the 17th, 18th, the conflict between Burgundy and Champagne, champagne in England. The second part describes the various vineyards, viticulture, manufacturing, large establishments of Reims, d'Epernay, Pierry, Ay, Mareuil, Avize and Rilly. Part three talks about the other sparkling wines of France: Saumur, Vouvray, Sauterne, Bourgogne, Jura, Rhone, concluding with
Facts and Notes Respecting Sparkling Wine. To the rear are advertisements from producers such as Moët et Chandon, Deutz & Geldermann, and Vizetelly's catalogue of other published works. 
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Price HK$ 20,000



Gazette du Bon Ton. Arts Modes & Frivolites. 1912-1913 Tome I and II; 1914 - Tome I - Lucien Vogel (directeur)

1912-13 - Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, Paris - First Editions
A beautiful and rare set of the first 18 legendary illustrated luxury fashion magazines to be issued by ‘Gazette du Bon Ton’. Finely bound in contemporary vellum. Text in French.

Art Nouveau at its finest, featuring the best designers and artists of the day. Stunningly illustrated with 181 pochoir plates (14 of which are double page), 33 additional full page colour plates, and hundreds of colour vignettes, and sketches throughout.

Belts, Shawls, Hats, Swimming Costumes, Theatre, Shoes, Handbags, Travel Bags and Trunks, Bouquets, Motoring, Sport, Hunting, Gloves, Jewellery, Riding, Make-up, Riviera, Hairstyle, Nightgowns, Capes, Umbrellas... to name but a few of the essential topics challenging the lifestyles of the fashion elite.
 
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Price HK$ 140,000



Gazette Du Bon Ton, Arts, Modes & Frivolit - Lucien Vogel (directeur)

1920 - Aus É, Paris - First Editions
Two finely bound volumes presenting Art-Deco Parisian fashion at its finest, comprising the entire run of Gazzette Du Bon Ton for 1920. Stunningly illustrated with 79 pochoir plates (many folding), 48 fashion sketches and hundreds of colour vignettes, and sketches throughout also coloured in pochoir. A luxurious collection of fashion articles, stunning art-deco pochoir plates, and sketches featuring the work of the best designers and artists of the day, including George Lepape, Pierre Brissaud, Charles Martin, André Marty, Raoul Dufy, Eduardo Bénito and many others.

Gazette du Bon Ton was the Parisian fashion magazine, active from 1912-1925 it fostered an elite aesthetic by signing exclusivity contracts with Paris' top couture houses and featuring gorgeous pochoir reproductions of the latest designs. The stated aim of the magazine was to push back on the hegemonic idea that women's fashion was inferior as an art form. Many of the artists chose to illustrate their women and designs in various narrative settings and situations rather than in blank spaces. 
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Price HK$ 45,000



 
Results 57 - 64 of 65 results