Origin and History of Beer and Brewing

1911. First Edition . Signed. ARNOLD, John P. Origin and History of Beer and Brewing. From Prehistoric Times to the Beginning of Brewing Science and Technology. Chicago: Alumni Ass'n of the Wahl-Henius Institute of Fermentology, 1911. Tall quarto, original pictorial orange- and black-stamped green cloth, patterned endpapers. $3200.First edition of Arnold's widely praised and comprehensive history of beer, spanning the prehistoric era through the late 18th century, inscribed by the author on the front flyleaf: ""With compliments to the Misses ___, by the author John P. Arnold."" With rare publisher's 16-page prospectus laid in.Written for the 25th Anniversary of Chicago's famous Wahl-Henius Institute, this is widely regarded as the first comprehensive book on beer-making. Its author, John P. Arnold, was a writer and editor for Der Braumeister and Siebel Technical Review, two Chicago brewing journals. He skillfully orients the history of beer within the larger history of mankind, discussing beer as it relates to religious ceremonies, dining, agriculture, invention and more. On publication Arnold's Origin and History was praised as ""monumental… ought to be in the hands of everybody connected with the brewing industry"" (American Brewers' Review XXV: 596-7). With numerous in-text and full-page illustrations. As issued without dust jacket. With publisher's rare 16-page prospectus, including press reviews and a specimen page from the text. LOC Catalog VIII:5604. Rare prospectus with mild edge-toning, faint vertical crease. Book with light spotting to fore-edge, text clean; rear inner paper hinge starting, binding sound, cloth fine. An excellent presentation copy, most scarce and desirable inscribed and with publisher's prospectus.