...and above all, let all women, pretty and plain, married and single, study the art of cookery. Excerpt from Elizabeth and Her German Garden 

{HISTORY}

There is something very tender and incredible about an almost antique cookbook that comes to the shop, not only with a century's worth of history but also a century's worth of handwriting, cooking stains, and age spots illustrating love and use. Such is the case with this magnificent 98-year-old cookbook. 

Originally published in 1902, Practical Cooking & Serving by Janet McKenzie Hill (1852-1933) is a complete, authoritative text intended to teach its readers how to cook and attractively serve every meal of the day. Containing over 600 pages, Janet was a student of the famous Boston Cooking School in the late 1890s as well as a journalist/editor devoted to kitchen science and subjects. Publishing twenty books throughout her life on a variety of kitchen and culinary topics, Janet was part of the team of women that included Fannie Farmer and Alice Bradley who were responsible for creating and adopting universal measurements in cooking and baking in order to yield precise results.

Janet was also known as a pioneer among early food writers for working with specific food industry companies to develop recipes solely showcasing their products - making her a sort of brand ambassador for food companies and a trusted expert among the cooking community. Upon its debut in 1902, Practical Cooking and Serving went through several reprints due to popularity and revisions. This is the 1923 edition which features 679 pages and a plethora of black and white photographs throughout. 

What makes this already rare cookbook even more interesting is its markings throughout, often made in fountain pen by one or more readers. The name Betty Davison features prominently on many pages, written both in fountain pen and pencil. Due to the frequency in which she wrote her name, we can only assume that it was Betty who made many or most of the notations throughout. There are handwritten recipes written in the margin, modifications to recipes, and underlined passages that must have seemed important for one reason or another. At first glance, we thought this may have been a school book, as it has that well-worn feel and insolence with its errant, carefree markings. But upon further investigation, we think this book was owned by one woman, (Betty!) who was gaining instruction perhaps from someone within her own household perhaps in training to one day run her own home or to work in service of someone else's. Either way it is fascinating to not only read Janet's words but then also Betty's notes in addition. 

This book came to the shop in a pretty severe state of disrepair. The covers were haphazardly bound together with electrical tape and the spine was crumbling with every turn of the page. Thankfully, it was intact enough to be put back together again using restoration quality book-binding procedures. It's not a perfect pristine book in brand-new quality, but that was never the goal. To alter this hand-touched, hand-written relic of the kitchen would have been a complete travesty, so it has been rebound with integrity keeping everything as intact as possible. Most of the work was done on the spine as well as reattaching many of the interior pages. To add, remove or cover over anything else would have been devasting for both the book and the history it represents.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1923 edition

- 680 pages 

- Very rare 20th-century cookbook

- Handwritten notations throughout

- Illustrated with black and white photography plates throughout 

- Interesting recipes include a plethora of Victorian/Edwardian era dishes including Green Turtle Ragout, Ham Baked with Cider, Roasted Partridge, Gumbo Soup, Bread Sauce, Jelly Mayonnaise, Lobster Sandwiches, Cheese Straws, Bath Buns, Thanksgiving Cake, a recipe for Hartford Election Cake from 1823, Syllabub recipes and fascinating chapters on baking pies, cakes, and desserts. There are so many interesting aspects to this book!

{CONDITION}

 As you can see from the photographs this book is in well-loved condition. All pages are intact. Cooking stains, splatters and water marks can bee seen throughout as well as notations giving this book 100% authentic time-worn patina and unique presentation. Please send us a message with any questions.

{SIZE}

Measures 8" inches (length) x 5.25" inches (width) x 2.25" inches (thickness) and weighs 2.2 lbs

{FOR THE 1920s COLLECTOR}

Find more vintage/antique kitchenware from the roaring 20's here.