ETIENNE. Traité de l'office. - Lot 20

ETIENNE. Traité de l'office. Paris, éd. chez l'auteur et Au Bureau de la Collection Culinaire d'Antonin Carême sur étiquette collée par dessus, 1854, 2 vol. in-8, black half-chagrin, dark brown and yellow marbled paper boards, 4 caissons with central fleurons and in the corners, gilt author, title and tomaison on 5-rib spine, period binding, vol. 1: (4) - 50 - 111 - (1 bl.) - 224 pp. and 2 plates of steel-engraved drawings, volume 2: III - (1 bl.) - 40 - 11 - (1 bl.) - 19 - (1bl.) - 202 - (1 bl.) - 220 - 2 pp, 5 out-of-text plates of steel-engraved drawings (7 plates in all), "explication du terme de traité de l'office", tables of contents, "réflexions générales", alphabetical tables and Errata in the second volume, large author's signature on verso of faux-title page, scattered freckling on paper and on some plates, especially at end of volumes. This is one of the most complete treatises on nineteenth-century cookery, with large sections devoted to pastries, ice creams, sweets, hors d'oeuvres, salads, cheeses, compotes of various fruits, as well as to the refining of sugar, petits fours, cookies, ice creams, macaroons, marzipan, soufflés and caramel. Complete with all "supplements". All parts of the book have specific pagination. "Confusion" on the part of the binder, who reversed the pages between 112 and 129 in the "Petits fours" chapter! The foreword explains the nature of this "service" treatise, as well as the officer's prerogatives in the former grande cuisine, the importance of expertise in decorating and sandblasting, and the setting of tables and flowers. He evokes the suppers of Princess Bagration, attended by Emperor Alexander, Lord Castlecreagh, the Emperor of Austria, Metternich and Talleyrand. This treatise was published in 1845 and 1846 in the form of "fascicules". Our copy would therefore be a third edition after the 1845 original and the 1846 edition, but Gérard Oberlé says he "has seen an 1851 edition"! so I can't say for sure whether it's a third or fourth edition! This book is beautifully presented in a fine binding. Binding and paper in very good condition, despite some foxing.