Bertrand Guégan; Various — Almanach de Cocagne

Paris, Editions de la Sirene, 1920-22. Paperback. A French almanac celebrating the wonders of food and drink, complete in three volumes, a brilliant association copy, from the library of Elizabeth David. In the original French.Complete in three volumes.Each volume is in the original glassine. A gastronomic almanac, by Bertrand Guégan, this set comprising of the entire run of the almanac, which was only published for three years.This almanac contains many recipes, and pieces of food writing, including essays and poems, with contributions by Jean Cocteau, Andre Salmon, Jacques-Emile Blanche, Erik Satie, and more. The essays discuss restaurants, food, and drink, every piece in these three volumes celebrating the pleasures of food and drink.Each volume is illustrated throughout, with decorations by Henri Matisse, amongst other artists.Including a loosely inserted handwritten note by David, noting some of the pieces in these volumes. From the library of the influential cookery writer Elizabeth David, with her bookplate to the front paste downs, a wonderful association copy. Throughout her career, David influenced the revitalisation of home cookery in Britain, where she returned to after the Second World War, after travelling through France, Greece, and Egypt. She was horrified by the food served in post-war England, when rationing was still ongoing, and thus started her career with popularising foreign cuisines in Britain, publishing books on Mediterranean, French, and Italian cooking. Her recipes included ingredients that were scarcely available in Britain at the time, such as olive oil, basil, figs, and garlic, bringing new flavours to British cuisine. Her works include 'A Book of Mediterranean Food', 'French Country Cooking', and 'French Provincial Cooking&apos. In the original publisher's paper wraps, in the original glassine. Externally, generally smart. Light edge wear to the wraps, a little heavier to 1922, with wear to the tail of the spine. Spines are sunned. Light handling marks and spots to the wraps. Small chip to the spine of 1920. Tidemark to the head of the spine of 1920, head of the front wrap is faded. Front hinge of 1921 is strained. Bookplate to the front paste downs. Light edge wear to the glassine, heavier to 1922, with loss to the tail of the spine. Glassine for 1922 is age-toned. A few spots to the glassines. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are age-toned and generally clean with a few scattered spots. Very Good . Ill.: Various. Very Good/Good.