English wine and cider
WORLIDGE, John.
Vinetum Britannicum: or, A treatise of cider, and such other wines and drinks that are extracted from all manner of fruits growing in this kingdom. Together with the method of propagating all sorts of vinous fruit-trees. And a description of the new-invented ingenio or mill, for the more expeditious and better making of cider. And also the right method of making metheglin and birch-wine. With copper-plates. By J.W. Gent.
London: by J[ames]. C[ottrell]. for Tho. Dring, 1676.
8vo (184 × 110 mm.), pp. [xxiv], 186, [6], including licence leaf, plus engraved title and 2 plates. Some old waterstains at opening, wormtracks to gutter of c. 18 leaves towards opening (confined to lower margin) and to gutter of last 25 leaves (upper and lower margins at gutter, both incidences occasionally touching letters but not obscuring sense. Nineteenth-century antique-style sprinkled calf, new label to style. Engraved bookplate (Baron Northwick). A good copy of a work seldom found in nice condition.
First edition of a celebrated English wine and cider book, considering many aspects of the production of drinks from fruit and the cultivation of fruit in general. The first chapter "Of drinks in general" is a brief attempt at a survey of drinking habits across the world, with references to drinks popular in Europe, Africa, the Indes and America (Caribbean, Brazil, Peru, Chile) which include tea, coffee and chocolate. The main body of the work is devoted to the cultivation of apples and vines in England, the preparation of the fruit and the making of cider and wines. The latter includes various fruit wines and specialities such as metheglin. The final "Catalogue of fruits" presents a marvellous litany of old-English apple names: Pearmains, Pippins, Russetts, Marigold, Gilliflower, Famagusta, Cat's head, Gennet-Moyle... let's have some more... Non-such, Angel's bit, Oaken-pin, Sodome-Apple ("esteemed a good apple").
£1500.00
US$2981.84*
* Given as a guide only. Based on an exchange rate of £1 = US$1.987896 for the day 5 July 2008 but liable to fluctuate.
5 July 2008