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Title page credits the author as simply "Robert of the Embassy Club." About 1/6th of jacket front panel is torn away and missing from bottom right, but enough of the author credit remains there to discern that it matches images of this jacket found elsewhere, crediting author there as "'Robert' of the American Bar, Casino Municipal, Nice, and late of the Embassy Club, London." Priced "2/6 Net" to spine. This Jenkins first edition -- a 16mo of 3-3/4 X 6-1/2 inches (9.5 X 16.5 cm.) in orange cloth-covered boards -- is dated MCMXXII (1922) to title page; no later dates or printings mentioned. In his introduction, the author cites the (likely apocryphal) tale of the rural American innkeeper who lost his prize fighting cock and promised the hand of his "beautiful daughter" to anyone who should find and return it. Of course, a dashing Army officer shows up with the bird under his arm. "The squire, full of joy, produced drinks that all might toast the tail of the cock, who had not lost a single feather. His daughter, either by accident, or from excitement at the sight of her future husband, mixed whisky, vermouth, bitters and ice together. Everybody liked this delicious concoction so much that it was christened on the spot 'Cocktail.'" Few innkeepers of our acquaintance would promise their daughters sight unseen to the first man who proves capable of catching a loose chicken, but of course the lass's youth and attractiveness remain largely conjectural. (They always look better after a few "cocktails.") One of the most sought-after of (American) Prohibition-era bartending books, essentially unknown as a jacketed first, Belgian Robert Vermeire's (1891-1976) book may be the first to offer a recipe for the Sidecar, includes various recipes for medicinal drinks (the hot toddy for a cold, absinthe for a headache, champagne for seasickness, etc.) and is also notable for recording the inventors of many of these recipes, when they were known. Frequent reference is made here to the measure known as the "Gill, or Noggin," which the author explains to be 0.142 liters, or a quarter of a pint, known in many kitchens as "half a cup." And, of course, "Care should be taken to prevent insects from entering the mixing bottles." The author worked at London's Royal Automobile Club, The Criterion, Embassy Club, bars in France and Belgium, and at his own Robert's Bar. Includes (of course) cobblers, coolers, daisies, fizzes, flips, frappes, highballs, juleps, pousse cafes, rickeys, slings, smashes, sours, toddiers, etc. Alcoholiana; bartending guide. 112 pp. including index, followed by 16 pp. advertisements, including Robert Vermeire's own offer, "Interviews arranged by appointment, Moderate terms, 112 Church Street, Kensington," to help hoteliers and restaurateurs set up their own "Cocktail Bars," as well as an ad for W.& A. Gilbey, Wine Growers & Distillers, "by appointment to his Majesty King George V." Here reduced from $4,500.
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