HEALTHS IMPROVEMENT; Or, Rules Comprizing and Discovering The Nature, Method, and Manner of Preparing All Sorts of Food Used in This Nation, Written by that ever famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick.

London, printed by Tho: Newcomb for Samuel Thomson, at the sign of the White Horse in Pauls Churchyard, 1655.. FIRST EDITION 1655, corrected and enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and fellow of the College of Physitians in London. Small 4to, approximately 180 x 140 mm, 7¼ x 5½ inches, pages: [8] (preliminary leaves), last page numbered 8, the rest unnumbered, 1-296, with a preliminary imprimatur leaf facing title page, bound in original contemporary sheep with new spine, gilt lettering and rules to spine, new pale brown endpapers, 1 original endpaper remains at front with the signature of John Borthwick of Crookstown Esquire with a few other neat minor ink notes on food, 3 neat ink notes on food on recto and verso of imprimatur leaf, 2 small neat repairs to inner margin of 2 leaves, not affecting text, small hole to 1 margin, not affecting text, tiny tip missing from lower corner of title page, pale age-browning in places and occasional pale mark to margins, otherwise a very good clean copy. See: Andre L. Simon, Bibliotheca Gastronomica, page 103, No. 1063; Arnold W. Oxford, English Cookery Books to the Year 1850, page 27; G. Vicaire, Bibliographie Gastronomique, page 613; George Thomason, Catalogue of the Pamphlets, Books etc., Relating to the Civil War, Volume 2, page 112, No. E.835. (16); Catalogue of the Wellcome Medical Library, Volume 4, page 148, under Moffet; Sotheby's, The Collection of Robert S. Pirie, part 2, page 99, Lot No. 593; ESTC R202888; Cagle, Bitting & Maclean all listing later editions. The book was published after Muffett's death from a manuscipt circa 1590. The origin of "Little Miss Muffet" is most commonly attributed to Dr. Thomas Muffet, physician and entomologist from the 16th century, the author of a book on "Theatre of Insects or Lesser Living Creatures as Bees, Flies, Catterpillars, Spiders etc.". "Little Miss Muffet" is about Patience, who was Dr Muffet's stepdaughter. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.