The Cook's Own Book: being a complete culinary encyclopaedia: comprehending all valuable receipts for cooking meat, fish, and fowl, and composing every kind of soup, gravy, pastry, preserves, essences, &c. that have been published or invented during the last twenty years. Particularly the very best of those in the Cook's Oracle, Cook's Dictionary, and other systems of domestic economy. With numerous original receipts, and a complete system of confectionery. By a Boston housekeeper. Alphabetically arranged.

First edition, first issue, of "the first alphabetically arranged culinary encyclopaedia to appear in the United States" (Oxford Companion to Food, p. 17), and one of the most popular American cookbooks of the 19th century (Michigan State University introduction, online). The author's sources are mainly British. The first issue lacks the later 37-page pastry supplement, has no mention of Lyman Thurston & Co. on the copyright page, and has 1832 as the date of both printing and copyright. Rare thus, and with no institutional copies of the first edition traced outside the US. Cagle and Stafford 447-48; Lowenstein 160-1. Octavo in sixes (190 x 116 mm). Contemporary sprinkled sheep, smooth spine with twin gilt rules forming compartments, black skiver label lettered in gilt to second. Contemporary recipe cuttings mounted to front free endpaper and first blank, this last with the contemporary ownership inscription of C. A. [?], Augusta. Extremities and joints rubbed, a few small scuffs to front cover, variable foxing, occasional faint creasing to outer corners, ownership inscription and three adhesive patches effaced from front pastedown, title-page a little abraded with a few small holes partially obscuring imprint, very small hole to sig. 13* costing half a letter either side, short closed tear along gutter of sig. 19.4 to no loss, final gathering starting, lacking the rear free endpaper. A good copy in a pleasing contemporary binding.…