Description
[005207] Raffald, Elizabeth. The Experienced English House-Keeper, for the Use and Ease of Ladies, House-Keepers, Cooks &c. Wrote Purely from Practice. Manchester: J. Harrop [Printer] for the Author, and Sold By Messrs. Fletcher and Anderson; and By Eliz. Raffald, 1769. First Edition. 8vo. Full Calf. Good. [5], ii-iii, [1], 2-362pp, [1], ii-xi, [1], plates. Modern full calf, raised bands, spine in six panels, title label to second panel
Spine lightly faded, minor rubbing, text browned throughout, a few small chips to margins, but never too obtrusive, the two folding plates creased, lightly soiled, and chipped to edges, lacking the final blank. Signed by the author on A1 (ensuring authenticity)
Elizabeth Raffald (1733-81), cook and author, was initially a housekeeper, later marrying and settling in Manchester having sixteen daughters in eighteen years. Initially a confectioner, later a publican, “she was a woman of much shrewdness, tact and strength of will, and had, with other accomplishments, a good knowledge of French. She gave lessons to young ladies in cookery and domestic economy … R. Baldwin, the London publisher, is reported to have paid Mrs. Raffald £1400 for the copyright in 1773. Her portrait, from a painting by P. McMorland, first came out in the eighth edition, 1782 … In 1772 she compiled and published the first Directory of Manchester and Salford … she also wrote a book on midwifery … but did not live to print it” (DNB)
Oxford, pages 98-99, Cagle 944; Maclean (calling for a portrait frontispiece, but this is erroneous), page 121; Wellcome IV:463; Vicaire, page 727 (for the third edition); Bitting, page 387 (for the second edition) Simon Bibliotheca Gastronomica 1249
ESTC shows eight copies in the UK and nine in the US
