A Plain Cookery Book for the Working Classes

London. Hard Cover. (London: Bosworth and Harrison nd circa 1860 - 1862?). Second Edition. Originally published at 6d. A small format hardback bound in publisher's brown boards with black lettering to the front and back boards and spine. 105 pages + 6 pages of adverts to the rear. 241 recipes. The 6th advert was by Crosse and Blackwell (by Special Appointment Purveyors to the Queen) stressing the purity and wholesomeness of their various products and with an extract from The Lancet (February 4th 1854) - "The Samples of Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell were entirely free of copper". There is an advert to the verso of the front cover for William S Adams & Son (Hot Water and Gas Engineers). The front free end-paper has an advert for Phillips and Company (Tea Merchants) and on the verso for Robinson, Belleville and Co Purveyors to the Queen - The Best Food for Children, Invalids and Others - Robinson's Patent Barley and Robinson's Patent Groats . Below the Robinson's advert is one for Epps's Cocoa (Commonly called Epps's Homeopathic Cocoa distinguished for its delicious aroma, grateful smoothness and invigorating power. A VG copy. Firmly bound. Marks to the boards in places. Quite a nice copy. NB: The first cookery book for those who could not afford a cook - the so called working classes. First edited in 1852, this book is both a rich source for traditional recipes and a picture of a changing society in the early 19th century. Photographs/scans available upon request.