The Savoy Cocktail Book

London: Constable and Company, 1930. First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed. 7.5" by 5". None. A very scarce first edition copy of the iconic Savoy Cocktail book. Signed by Craddock to his friend and fellow bartender, with some truly unique annotations. This copy belonged to Collis-Phillips Halpin, a personal friend of Harry Craddock. Halpin worked as a cocktail bartender and dancer in London, and worked in many locations including the Regency Club in Piccadilly Circus as well as the American Bar. With Halpin's inscription to the verso of front endpaper and his annotations to the margins on occasion throughout.  There is a note to the title page from Halpin to the second, and most recent owner of this work, Nigel Plastow. It explains how he came to own this book and is dated 1977. Collis has also written to page 284 a method of serving champagne and port.  Written below this is '''My original cocktail ''Emerald Isle'' was afterwards bottled and sold as Green Goddess. Needless to say I was not given a prize, neither was my cocktail put on exhibition! Collis-Phillips Halpin'". The most recent owner of this work, Reverend Nigel Plastow has included further provenance information to this work. He states that Collis gifted him the book in 1977 and that it was his most precious and treasured possession. There is a testimony written by Plastow to Harry Craddock's character and how he would invite Collis to be the first to try new cocktails. Signed by Harry Craddock to the verso of the dedication page 'Here's How, Harry Craddock'. Accompanying this book is Harry Craddock's sword stick. It is in a damaged condition and is lacking the end of the stick. Plastow stated that the damage occurred when an inebriated patron was abusive to other customers of the American Bar where Collis worked. The patron refused to leave a party of ladies alone and therefore Craddock attended the scene, hitting the man so hard across the shoulder that the stick broke. 'The American Cocktail Bar erupted in cheers'. Illustrated throughout, with the beautiful Gilbert Rumbold illustrations. Owing to the accompanying sword stick, we would only be able to ship this book within the U.K. Typically, the boards are rubbed due to the gold and silver foil. 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 and discusses various noted vineyards.Further provenance information is available on request.A truly unique copy of this staple cocktail book. In the publisher's quarter cloth binding, with foil boards. Externally, very smart. Boards are rubbed as is common with this work. Prior owner's inscriptions to the preliminary pages and to the notes at the rear. The author's inscription to the verso of the dedication leaf. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Former owner's additions to the margins of several recipes. Otherwise, just the odd spot. Very Good Indeed