RICKEYS, DAISIES, SLINGS, SHRUBS, SMASHES, FIZZES, JULEPS: FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF THE SAVOY COCKTAIL BOOK
CRADDOCK, Harry. The Savoy Cocktail Book. New York: Richard R. Smith, 1930. Octavo, original half black cloth, Art Deco pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers.
First American edition of this quintessential book of cocktail recipes, with lively and colorful Art Deco illustrations by Gilbert Rumbold and bold Art Deco binding.
Compiled by "the king of cocktail shakers," this witty, informative, and eminently useful book on how to make and mix drinks contains humorous anecdotes on the origin of the cocktail and its purpose ("for the solace of man"), as well as "an elucidation of the Manners and Customs of people of quality in a period of some equality." In 1926, Harry Craddock fled prohibition in the United States to become Head Barman at the London Savoy. He was the inventor of the "Old Fashioned." His book includes a chapter on "Cocktails Suitable for a Prohibition Country" and an entertaining autobiographical essay on wines by Colette. Without Bacardi Cocktails addendum slip at page 25. Preceded in the same year by a signed limited edition and a London edition.
Interior very fresh, rear inner paper hinge starting but quite sound, mild rubbing to boards. A bright near-fine copy.