The Book of Bread [Deluxe issue].

SIMMONS, Owen.

Published by London, Maclaren & Sons, [1903]., 1903

About this Item

[offered with:]SIMMONS, Owen. The Book of Bread. London, Maclaren & Sons, [1903]. [and with:]LEWIS, T. Percy, and A.G.BROMLEY. The Book of Cakes. London, Maclaren & Sons, [1903]. 1) 4to, pp.360, with 12 chromolithographic plates (of which 4 on a vibrant blue background) and 10 silver bromide prints tipped in on card leaves (2 on green card, 8 on brown) with printed captions; a further 6 half-tone photographic illustrations printed in text; some very slight foxing, very gently toned in places, one or two spots or marks, small adhesion from p.64 to facing plate, edges of silver bromide prints slightly silvered, occasionally very slightly creased at inner margin, some minor offsetting from the prints, otherwise an excellent copy; bound in the original pebble-grained red morocco, title blocked in gilt to upper board, spine gilt-ruled in compartments and lettered directly in gilt, turn-ins roll-tooled in gilt, edges gilt, red and gold marbled endpapers; corners slightly worn, stain to rear cover and part of spine. 2) 4to, pp.360, with 12 chromolithographic plates (of which 4 on a vibrant blue background), 8 photomechanical plates on navy blue card with printed captions, and 2 silver bromide prints tipped in on green card leaves with printed captions; a further 6 half-tone photographic illustrations printed in text; some slight foxing, the odd spot or marks, silver bromide prints slightly silvered with offsetting onto facing pages, edges of plates and prints occasionally slightly creased at inner margin, one bromide with short tears not affecting loaf, otherwise internally fresh and clean; bound in the original publisher's green cloth, title blocked in gilt to upper board and in black to spine, border in black to upper board and spine; boards soiled and worn, gilt lettering worn away, joints and edges scuffed with some loss of cloth. 3) 4to, pp.228, with 48 chromolithographic plates, some enhanced with gold or silver; a further 8 half-tone photographic illustrations printed within text and 1 diagram; some slight foxing, occasional spots or marks, 7 plates loose, tear to head of pp.181 190, stain to gutter of p.124 and facing plate; bound in the original publisher's green cloth, title and border blocked in black to upper board and the spine; boards soiled and worn, upper board faded, lettering worn away, joints and edges scuffed; 'Big Top Birthday Greetings' with corresponding drawing of a circus big top in pen to verso of first free endpaper.Extremely rare 'edition de luxe' of The Book of Bread, with ten silver bromide prints and in the original morocco binding, along with the standard first editions of The Book of Bread and The Book of Cakes, in their original green cloth bindings; combining both issues of the celebrated early photobook along with its confectionary counterpart, featuring life-sized photographic reproductions of loaves and captivating chromolithographic cakes. Originally intended as a technical monograph on bread-making for manufacturers, The Book of Bread is now recognised for its artistic merit as an iconic piece of early conceptual art. 'The Book of Bread is one of those rare books that can be judged by its cover, or rather, by its name. It is, as its title says, a book about bread. As Owen Simmons states in his introduction, it is a companion volume to 'that most excellent "Book of Cakes"'. A monograph about the manufacture of bread, it is the bread-maker's bread book, illustrated with photographs, about which Simmons evidently a man who did not hold with false modesty writes: 'However critical readers might be, they will be forced to admit that never before have they seen such a complete collection of prize loaves illustrated in such an excellent manner.' … The nineteenth-century photobook was primarily an archive in which the things of the world were stored and catalogued. Here, at the beginning of the twentieth century, one of the humblest, yet most essential of objects is catalogued as precisely, rigorou. Seller Inventory # P1625

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Book of Bread [Deluxe issue].

Publisher: London, Maclaren & Sons, [1903].

Publication Date: 1903

Edition: First Edition.