THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FOOD (Two Volume set)

WARD, Artemas

Published by Peter Smith, NY, 1941

About this Item

(USA) First Thus Owner's name to one volume to endpaper; price notation to second volume front endpaper, "DO" written in white ink to the base of the spines, no other markings, some faint spotting to covers otherwise about Very Good copies; no Dj. Two volume set consisting of 26 x 17 cm volume of text and (mostly) B&W illus, and a 26 x 21.5 cm volume of colour plates. Leaf green cloth with titles to covers in black. Text volume: x, 596pp, index. B&W photos. Colour frontis of "Vanilla Bean" and fold-out colour plate of "Mushrooms". The subtitles reads: "The stories of foods by which we live, how and where they grow and are marketed, their comparative values and how best to use and enjoy them." The Volume of plates: x, and 71 unnumbered coloured plates showing foodstuffs. The book is copyright 1923 and this is the reissue of 1941 by arrangement with Baker & Taylor Co. Inc. but the preface by the author states that the first issue was in 1882 and that a much larger edition appeared in 1911 which "was restricted by its dedication to the dealer in foods". This restriction was dropped for the 1923 edition and the author takes pride in offering " a volume planned for the entire eating public". This is a fascinating reference for thousands of foodstuffs arranged alphabetically with facts as to their origins, cultivation, markets, use. There are no recipes as such. The entry for BIRDS'`NEST SOUP is typical: " a famous Oriental soup in which the distinguishing ingredient is the edible nests of the Collocalia genus of swifts (formerly, but erroneously included in the same classification as swallows), found chiefly among the islands of the Indian ocean and along certain parts of the Chinese coast. The nests consists essentially of mucus secreted by the birds' remarkably developed salivary glands" (Then there follows several sentences on the shape and construction of the nests.) Then the chief market at Singapore is discussed with prices higher for the newly built nests, as they are whiter. A pound represents about fifty nests. Then there is a discussion about the preparation of bird's nest soup and a short conclusion about availabilty in America. The range and detail of the information given is staggering and is still relevant although some of the processing and cultivation procedures may now be obsolete or may have disappeared. (6.0 JM HOQ 100/4 Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.

Seller Inventory # 35870

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FOOD (Two Volume set)
• Publisher: Peter Smith, NY
• Publication Date: 1941
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • Food Writing and General Cookbooks