The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock - 1930

ont> Constable and Co : London, 1930 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. First edition.. An exceptional and very smart, first edition copy of the iconic 1930's collection of drinks recipes, 'The Savoy Cocktail Book'. With the boards unusually bright, with only a small amount of wear. Typically, the boards are heavily rubbed due to the gold and silver foil. The first edition of this work, with the addenda/errata slip to page 25 in an excellent condition. Contemporary gift inscription, in pencil, to the half-title 'Peggy and David, My memory of one or two good ones JGH 1930'. To the rear note paper there is one recipe written, in pencil, by a contemporary hand for a Hell's Angel'. The recipe is written very neatly. The other four pages of note paper remains blank. The Savoy Cocktail book was written by Henry Craddock, one of the most famous bartenders of the 1920s and 1930s. He had an eighteen year tenure at the Savoy Hotel in London which is when he wrote this collection of 750 Cocktails. Craddock is credited with creating many classic cocktails such as the White Lady and the Corpse Reviver #2. Craddock is also known for founding the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild in 1934. To the introduction Craddock writes on cocktails suitable for a prohibition country, which relates to his personal history. Craddock was originally from America and left to the United Kingdom during the Prohibition. Loosely inserted is a receipt from 1940 for 3 tumblers purchased at Thomas Goode and Co by one Mrs Capewell of Bolney House, Ennismore Gardens. Bolney House was a grand house first built in 1883 for Alfred Hut, an English Bibliophile and connoisseur. The house was designed by eminent architect Richard Norman Shaw. With an historical introduction regarding cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails and a list of the cocktail recipes in alphabetical order. Craddock separates the work by types of cocktails, sours, toddies, flips, slings, highballs etc. The second part of this work regards wines. A wonderful opportunity to own a first edition copy of this important cocktail book. Condition: In the publisher's original binding. A quarter cloth binding with gold and silver leaf boards. Externally, very smart with just some minor patches of rubbing to the gilt boards, as is common with this work. Spine has faded slightly to the gilt. Small loss to the bottom corner of the front board. Gift inscription to the recto of half-title 'Peggy and David, my memory of one or two good ones J G H 1930'. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Prior owner's recipe neatly written in pencil to the rear of the work on the assigned note pages. Occasional light spots to pages, slightly heavier to the first and last few pages. Overall Condition: Very Good Indeed.