This stunning First Edition of The Experienced English Housekeeper By Elizabeth Raffald was published by J Harrap in 1769. So the book is from the Georgian era and published 6 years before the birth of Jane Austen. The binding is later than this however, and features a contemporary quarter leather binding and marbled boards. There are five raised bands to the spine and tooled detail.
The book is in very good condition with light rubbing to the corners and board edges. There is a small reddish mark to the back board and the leather spine shows fading and scuffing. There is toning and foxing to the text block edges.
Inside, the author has signed the first page entitled Observations on Soups. It's amazing to think that this book was signed 256 years ago. Several pages have been supplied in facsimile, having been lost over time. Most of these are hard to tell apart from the original, but one is quite obviously a facsimile as the paper is much paler and it sticks out slightly from the edge of the text block. The pages show age toning throughout, with sporadic marking, staining and creasing. The text is clear and bright but the book has been enjoyed over the years.
The book was dedicated to Lady Elizabeth Warburton who Raffald worked for for many years. Raffald went into domestic service for fifteen years, working her way up to the position of housekeeper to the Warburton Baronets at Arley Hall, Cheshire. She left her position when she married the Estate's head gardener and the couple moved further North to Lancashire. Raffald was very entrepreunerial and opened a register office to introduce domestic workers to employers. She also ran a cookery school and sold food from the premises. In 1769 she published this very book, which contains the first recipe for a "Bride Cake" that is recognisable as a modern wedding cake.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in patterned wallpaper and ribbon.
I use a range of eco friendly, 100% recyclable jiffy bags and boxes, and whenever possible I use brown paper tape. The green bubble wrap is biodegradable and the clear bubble wrap is 100% recyclable. I also reuse boxes when I feel it's appropriate (if the boxes are sturdy enough).