MAY | The Accomplisht Cook, or The Art & Mystery of Cookery, 1685

From the Library of the Earls of Haddington

MAY, ROBERT

The Accomplisht Cook, or The Art & Mystery of Cookery. Obadiah Blagrave, 1685

8vo, fifth edition with large additions throughout, portrait frontispiece, 4 woodcut folding plates and additional woodcut illustrations throughout, 9pp. of publisher's catalogue, contemporary panelled calf, spine gilt with Baillie’s golden fleece motif, browning, woodcut plates worn and often with tears at folds, hinges splitting, rubbed

THE FIRST SUBSTANTIAL ENGLISH RECIPE BOOK AFTER THE RESTORATION. The Accomplisht Cook "looked back to a golden age of generous hospitality and magnificence, but also recognized more recent developments... May's work was a longer and more complete collection of recipes than had appeared before in English, and made use of illustration in a way that had not yet been seen. Cookery was still a closely guarded trade mystery, which May desired to make accessible to all, though admitting that not every reader could afford his most extravagant dishes." (ODNB)

LITERATURE:

ESTC R28128

PROVENANCE:

George Baillie (1644-1738), engraved armorial bookplate; thence by descent to the Earls of Haddington

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