Ximenes Rare Books Inc

Atkyns, Arabella, pseudonym Family magazine London  1747

[Atkyns, Arabella, pseudonym.] The family magazine: in two parts. Part I. Containing useful directions in all the branches of house-keeping and cookery. Particularly shewing how to buy-in the best of all sorts of provisions; as poultry-ware, butchers-meat, fish, fruit, &c. With several hundred receipts in cookery, pastry, pickling, confectionary, distilling, brewing, cosmeticks, &c. Together with the art of making English wines, &c. Part II. Containing, a compendious body of physick; explaining the virtues and properties of all sorts of meats, drinks, herbs, plants, roots, seeds, &c. used either as food or physick. And succinctly treating of all the diseases and accidents incident to men, women and children. With practical rules and directions for the preserving and restoring of health and prolonging of life. As also how to make all kinds of balsams, salves, ointments, elixirs, cordials, diet-drinks, syprups, electuaries, powders, &c. In a method entirely new and intelligible; in which every disease is rationally and practically considered, in its several stages and changes; and approved recipe's inserted under every distemper, in alphabetical order. Being principally the common-place book of a late able physician, by which he successfully, for many years, regulated his practice. To which is added, an explanation of such terms of art used in the work, as could not be so easily reduced to the understanding of common readers. London: printed for J. Osborn, 1747. (8), iii-xiv, 126(4); (2), 305(7) pp. 8vo, contemporary calf, rebacked (a trifle rubbed). Third edition, "revised, corrected, and greatly enlarged. To which is prefixed, a brief account of the great efficacy of tar-water in most distempers; directions for making it, &c." First published in 1741, with a revised second edition in 1743. This third edition in fact consists of the sheets of the second edition, with the six-page section on tar water, inspired by the writings on the subject of Bishop Berkeley, inserted after the title-page. This copy preserves the second edition title-page to Part II; it has been slit for cancellation, but was inadvertently left in place (and now neatly repaired). A good example of a mid-18th century household book. The following statement appears in the preface: "Being still teized for some name, I will, tho' not my right one, subscribe that of Arabella Atkyns." The author also states that Part II was taken from the commonplace book of her late brother, a physician. With a few simple woodcuts of table-settings in the text. A very good copy. This edition is uncommon; the ESTC (01/05) lists six copies (DNLM, CtY, CSt, CU-SD, KMK; Queensland). Maclean, p. 49 (adding the Wellcome Institute copy; "Part I is good"); Bitting, p. 550; cf. Cagle, A Matter of Taste, 673 (the first edition only).

£750

This item is listed on Bibliopoly by Ximenes Rare Books Inc; click here for further details.