The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy 

A Lady (Hannah Glasse) 

Printed for A. Millar, R. Tonson, W. Strahan, T. Caslon, T. Durham, and W. Nicholl 

'A New Edition' London,1767  

First published in 1747 under the authorship of 'A Lady', 'The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy' was intended to be used by servants. To achieve this aim, Glasse simplified the instructions, refrained from using  foreign words, especially any in French, and used English equivalents. It was her hope that her cookbook would 'improve the servants, and save the ladies a great deal of trouble.' It is highly likely her hopes were realised because 'The Art of Cookery' became a best-selling recipe book for a hundred years and has over 20 editions. It is still in print today, over 250 years later. 

Our 1767 edition, 384 pp. vi and index at back, is calf-leather bound and has five raised bands to the spine with no titling. There is a facsimile of the author's signature printed on the first page of text. There are two newspaper cuttings inside about Glasse from a previous owner, earliest possible date 1922, with one written by the Rt. Hon. Augustine Birrell.

The cover edges are worn, with small dents in the top edge, lower spine and back cover. Binding is strong and intact. A previous owner's name and an equation of some sort are written on the ffep. There are no other internal markings. Front and back end papers are mildly tanned and foxed. Front and back free end papers are worn on the edges. There are  markings from old tape residue on back end papers. Text block 'dirtied' by age. Book has aged well  for being over 250 years old. It is very readable with very little foxing or tanning inside. 

 For sale by Priory Books, Warwickshire County Record Office's second hand book shop