OP: La Cuisiniere Bourgeoise

Daniel Morcrette, 1977 (1746). Hardcover. Fine.

La Cuisiniere Bourgeoise was the most reprinted and widely read French cookbook of the 18th century.

Originally published anonymously in 1746 and eventually attributed to a prolific cookbook author known only as Menon, Cuisiniere Bourgeoise notably focuses on the simple, economical cooking of the average French home, rather than the aristocratic fare documented by his contemporaries. By using the feminine “cuisiniere,” Menon also tips the hat to the stewards of this naturally seasonal and healthful cuisine who are, by and large, women.

We are offering here a 1977 facsimile of the original 1746 printing published by Daniel Morcrette. Morcrette was a rare cookbook collector who sought to preserve books which might have otherwise disappeared from public knowledge. During the 1970s and ‘80s he printed exquisite facsimiles of a number of great works, primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Ours is a Fine copy, in full maroon sheepskin with gilt embossing and edges. 4” x 7”. Handsome, excellent craftsmanship. This volume is made all the more remarkable by the addition of Alan Davidson’s bookplate to the front free endpaper. Alan Davidson (1924–2003) was a highly esteemed food writer and scholar, founder of Prospect Books, and a seminal figure in establishing the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery. It is an honor to pass along a book from his personal collection. In French.