The Cook's Oracle; Containing Receipts for Plain Cookery on the Most Economical Plan for Private Families: Also, the Art of Composing the Most Simple and Most Highly Flavored Broths, Gravies, Soups, Sauces, Store Sauces, and Flavouring Essences... The Fifth Edition

London: Printed for A. Constable & Co.; [printed by James Moyes, Greville Street], 1823. 24mo. (19.5 x 12 cm.), xx, 484 pages. Appendix (of marketing tables); index. Stated Fifth Edition,"the whole work has again been carefully revised, by the author of "The art of invigorating life by food," &c." Originally issued London (1817) as Apicius Redivivus..., this pre-title was dropped after the second edition of 1818. One of the most popular of early 19th century cookbooks, both in England and America. William Kitchiner (1775-1827) was known to travel with his Portable Cabinet of Taste, containing mustard and sauces, so it's not surprising that the book contains eleven ketchup recipes, and the recipe for Wow-Wow Sauce, for which Kitchiner is credited as the inventor. This book also contains what is considered to be the first crisp, or potato chip recipe, titled Potatoes, Fried in Slices or Shavings; "peel large potatoes, slice them about a quarter of an inch thick, or cut them in shavings round and round, as you would peel a lemon; dry them well in a clean cloth, and fry them in lard or dripping" (recipe no. 104). ~ Printer's binding; untrimmed, some signatures a bit shaken, but still sound; some light spotting to the first few leaves. Hinges visible; it's unclear to me whether this book originally had free endpapers, or came from the printer like this. In full natural linen, with paper title label to spine, "Price 9s. Boards"; label worn and soiled but legible. Near very good. Scarce example of a printer's binding on this important work. [OCLC locates twenty-four copies of this printing; Bitting, page 262 ff.; Cagle 798 ff. (other editions)].