Gentleman's Companion, An Exotic Cookery Book [with] An Exotic Drinking Book

New York: Crown Publishers, 1946. Two volumes. Octavos (23 x 16 cm.), 216 & 220 pages. FIRST TRADE EDITION; the original limited edition was published by Derrydale Press in 1939. There were two Gentleman's Companions compiled by Charles Baker, the journalist, traveler and collector of food and drink lore. Each Companion was a set of two volumes. This is the first set, a collection of "exotic" culinary and cocktail recipes. The later, second set was focused on South American food and drink. The Washington Post said, "with whimsicality and an extraordinary fidelity to detail, Mr. Charles H. Baker Jr. has done The Gentleman's Companion, a two-volume work on fine drinking and eating. Years of world-wide research are in these splendid books with the strong implication that Mr. Baker's liver never let him down." Baker's writings on exotic cocktails recipes are second to none. Lacking the original slipcase. Both volumes clean within; front hinge of first volume pulling a bit, but all sound. In publisher's red cloth, sun faded as is often the case. Near very good. Each free front end paper contains the ink ownership signature of L.N. Taxiarchis, M.D., a sportsman and collector of books on game. He has also added a recipe in ink, "Northumberland Drink, Percy Special" to the rear endpapers of the second volume.