Arte Cisoria, ó, Tratado del arte del cortar del cuchillo, que escrivio Don Henrique de Aragon, Marques de Villena: la da a luz, Con Licencia del Rey nuestro Senor, La Bibliotheca Real de San Lorenzo del Escorial

En Madrid: En la oficina de Antonio Marin, 1766. Small quarto (19.6 x14.6 cm.). [xxiv], 197, [1, blank] pages. Title-page with woodcut border, nine woodcuts in the text, ornamental head-piece and seven tail-pieces. FIRST EDITION. The oldest cookery and etiquette book in the Spanish language, by Don Henrique de Aragon, Marques de Villena (1384-1434). The original manuscript, written in the 1423, resides in the Library of El Escorial and remained unpublished until this publication in the 18th century. The Cisoria Art, or treatise on how to properly cut food, exposes an entire art practiced for centuries, and subject to an entire code: the "cisoria art", the art of cutting food with a knife. But Enrique de Villena does not stop at describing the method of cutting; he also offers a precise description of the varied instruments necessary and most appropriate choice for each cut. The art of cutting food not only has an intimate connection with medicine, but also with etiquette and civility. "It is the oldest cookery and etiquette book" (Palau). "A precious monument of the language of the early 15th century, in which fans of falconry and hunting will find an abundance of names of land animals and birds" (Salva). Some light staining (pages 165-168, 181/182, and the final leaf), otherwise fresh and clean. Eighteenth century vellum, spine hand-lettered in ink; inside front hinge cracked but sound. Bookplate of L.L. Deuzel on verso of front free endpaper. Really an excellent example. [OCLC locates nineteen copies; Brunet 5-1240/1; Graesse 6(2)-322; Heredia 626, NV 0168302; Palau 369452; Salva 4069].