Christian Shultz (2 results)

Condition: Very Good +. First Edition. New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, 1862. First Edition with $1.50 price stamped in gilt to upper cover. 12mo. 244pp. + [8]pp. publisher's advertisements including ad for this volume under the title "The Bar-Tender's Guide" (also for $1.50); illustrations throughout, the first signed "Avery" in image. Original brown wavy-grained cloth with elaborate blind stamped decorative leaf designs on both covers; gilt stamping to front and spine; yellow advertisement endpapers. Corners bumped and lightly worn; rubbing and small burn mark to spine. Binding sound; contemporary gift inscription in pencil to preliminaries, else unmarked and free of foxing. A remarkably well-preserved, Very Good or better copy; quite uncommon in such beautiful condition. The first true cocktail book issued in the United States from the founding father of American mixology, How to Mix Drinks classifies drinks as cobblers, cocktails, fixes, juleps, punches, sours, slings, smashes, toddies, and "fancy drinks." A commercial success upon publication, Thomas did more than anyone else to establish a canon of American drinks, and, according to cocktail historian David Wondrich, helped establish the "First legitimate American culinary art." In the fog of whiskey and war, exact states of this work are difficult to pin down, but our volume aligns with the first issue points enumerated by NYPL in their announcement for their January 16, 2024 article regarding their acquisition under the Bar-Tender's Guide title. We note that nearly all contemporary newspaper advertisements use the "How to Mix Drinks" title and the type from stereotyped plates in this copy is largely unblemished. We have handled a later state with a $2.50 price with the same binding variant, though the bartender vignette appears to be the more common of the two. Regardless, a major work of Americana and culinary history. References: "New to the Rare Book division: The First Modern Cocktail Manual," by Michael Inman, Susan Tane Curater of Rare Books, NYPL Blog, January 16, 2024 Gastronomic Bibliography by Bitting, p. 403 The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails by Wondrich and Rothbaum, p. 726 Imbibe! by Wondrich.

Condition: Very Good. New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, [ca. 1866]. Later state with $2.50 price stamped in gilt to front cover, title page undated, different ads, and final page of text not numbered. 12mo. 243; [1]pp. + [8]pp. publisher's advertisements; illustrations throughout, the first signed "Avery" in image. Original publisher's blind stamped geometric patterned blue cloth; gilt stamping to front and spine. Worn and chipped at extremities; corners bumped; chip to top of front joint. Binding sound; mild toning and spotting to endpapers, else unmarked and still a Very Good and sound copy. The first true cocktail book issued in the United States from the founding father of American mixology. Originally published in 1862, How to Mix Drinks classifies drinks as cobblers, cocktails, fixes, juleps, punches, sours, slings, smashes, toddies, and "fancy drinks." A commercial success upon publication and subsequently released with higher price points, Thomas did more than anyone else to establish a canon of American drinks, and, according to cocktail historian David Wondrich, helped establish the "First legitimate American culinary art." Exact states of this work are difficult to pin down, but we hazard an 1866 publication date based on advertisements to rear. Regardless, an early appearance of a major work of Americana and culinary history; scarce in retail. References: "New to the Rare Book division: The First Modern Cocktail Manual," by Michael Inman, Susan Tane Curater of Rare Books, NYPL Blog, January 16, 2024 Gastronomic Bibliography by Bitting, p. 403 The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails by Wondrich and Rothbaum, p. 726 Imbibe! by Wondrich.