The Forme of Cury, a Roll of Ancient English Cookery, Compiled about A.D. 1390, by the master-cooks of King Richard II, Presented afterwards to Queen Elizabeth, by Edward Lord Stafford and now in the possession of Gustavus Brander, Esq.

Pegge, S. [Samuel]

Published by Printed by J. Nichols, Printer to the Society of Antiquaries 1780, London, 1780

About this Item

Signed association copy. iv, xxxvi, 188 pp., with the plate but without the final advert leaf or the portrait (although Bitting states this is rare and dated 1785). Bound in recent full calf with some mottling, gilt ruling to boards. Raised bands to spine with maroon leather title label. Blind-tooled turn-ins. New endpapers. Minor scattered spotting and some water staining throughout to the edges of the leaves not affecting the text, particularly affecting pages 129-152. Retained original armorial bookplate of Charles Mellish Esquire of Blythe, Notts. Ink dedication to Mellish on the title page from the dedicatee and owner of the original manuscript at the time of publication, Gustavus Brander. The Middle English word 'cury' here means 'cookery'. The book is based on a parchment roll, at the time owned by Gustavus Brander. The British Library states "The Forme of Cury is the first English text to mention olive oil, cloves, mace, and gourds in relation to British food. Most of the recipes contain what were then luxurious and valuable spices, including caraway, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and pepper. There are also recipes for cooking strange and exotic animals, such as whales, cranes, curlews, herons, seals, and porpoises." Gustavus Brander F.R.S. (1720 â " 1787), was an English naturalist, with Swedish family roots. He was brought up as a merchant, and eventually became a director of the Bank of England. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1754, and was also a trustee of the British Museum. An attractive association copy. This edition has the dedication leaf to Gustavus Brander signed S. Pegge rather than 'the editor' identifying it as a later issue. Bitting, p.361; Maclean p.112; Oxford, p.108; Simon BG 1143; Vicaire p.669. 8vo.

Seller Inventory # 63752

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Forme of Cury, a Roll of Ancient English Cookery, Compiled about A.D. 1390, by the master-cooks of King Richard II, Presented afterwards to Queen Elizabeth, by Edward Lord Stafford and now in the possession of Gustavus Brander, Esq.
• Publisher: Printed by J. Nichols, Printer to the Society of Antiquaries 1780, London
• Publication Date: 1780
• Binding: Full Calf
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Firsts Book Fair
  • Food and Drink
  • Antiquarian