A California Cook Book

San Francisco: Published by Town Talk Press, 88 First Street, 1917. Tall octavo (28.5 x 18 cm.), 47, [3] pages. Illustrated wrappers with envelope fold. Includes the cancel leaf tipped-in at the rear, "Some War Recipes and Others". FIRST EDITION. An early and attractively produced San Francisco cookbook, issued as the city was finally putting the Great Earthquake behind it, but the nation was on the brink of entering the Great War. Recipes are attributed, and a separate list of contributors is included. The list is a who's Who of San Francisco society at the moment. In addition to expected recipe sections such as Soups and Sauces, Fish: Fresh and Salt, Entrees, Punch, Flesh, Fowl and Game, Vegetables, Puddings and Pudding Sauces, Fancy Desserts, etc., also included are The Economical Hamburger, Hot Cakes and Waffles, and Favorite "Kosher" Dishes. Some of the recipes are given in great detail, such as a Gigot of Lamb, Lilianne, contributed by Raphael Weill, Chicken Fricassee with Noodles, by Mrs. Joseph Steinhart, or Marshmallow Pudding by Mrs. Roach, which has two added suggestions on additions to the dish from a Miss Ray Bromley and a Mrs. Mayo. In illustrated tan wrapper, lithographically printed in brown with an illustration by San Francisco artist and writer Lionel Josophare (author of the 1909 classic The World of Suckers). The text block is separating between the first and second signatures, though the wrapper is holding the whole together with some security. There is a light tide line at top and bottom throughout, but the pages are clean and bright. A bit better than good. [OCLC locates thirteen copies, almost all in California; Glozer 347; not in Strehl].