Recipes of All Nations

First published in 1935, this is undated but possibly a first impression as no other editions mentioned on copyright page. Black cloth boards with silver titling, no jacket. Some edge wear and rubbing to top and bottom of covers, considerable fraying and small loss to top and bottom of spine, some overall rubbing and some scratches, some slight separation between verso ffep and title page, small gift inscription to ffep and a scribbled note to rear endpapers, some slight browning and spotting to page block, internally clean tightish and square, overall a reasonable copy for its age. 800pp, map endpapers, blank lilac 'note' pages to rear. A huge detailed cookery book, divided into labelled countries, by American British food writer, dance critic and demonstration chef Marcelle Azra Hincks (1883-1938), known by the nom de plume Countess Morphy. All her books were published by Joseph in conjunction with Selfridges, as they were probably associated with her employment by the department store as a cookery demonstrator. Elizabeth David recalled attending her cookery classes at Selfridges as a young girl and being impressed with her expertise. Although some critics picked on the inevitable mistakes which occurred in this giant and wide ranging book, and some ridiculed the recipe for fricassee of iguana from Guinea, on the whole the work was greeted with enthusiasm. Now quite a scarce book, also a very large heavy book, extra postage may be required.…