The South American Gentleman's Companion VOL. I & II

New York: CROWN PUBLISHERS, INC., 1951. First Edition. Hardcover. Blue cloth covered boards. Very good, in good slip case. 224 & 225 pages. 24 x 16 cm. Vol. I has two important book plates, that of Phil Townsend Hanna and Marcus Crahan. Both Hanna and Townsend were members of the Zamarano Club - both active in the same Los Angeles bibliophilic circle. As Hanna passed away before Crahan, we believe this book went from Hanna's library to Crahan's. Crahan's bookplate was made for him in the 1930s by Hungarian-born designer Franz Geritz (1895-1945). Vol. II includes Marcus Crahan's bookplate.

After the success of the Gentleman's Companion in 1946, Baker set his sights on South America. The author "hand-picked" all these delectable recipes on a "journey involving over 30,000 Air-Miles". What awaits will make you swoon - soups from Panama; Fish from the South American seas; Poultry, Game, and every toothsome way with vegetables; Exotic Desserts & Fruits - and then on to the Cocktails: Is Absinthe an Aphrodisiac?; the history of Angostura Bitters; Brandy-Based Drinks; Champagne-Based Drinks; Coffee-Based Drinks; Coconut-Based Tropicals; Egg Nogs of South of Panama; Gin-Based Drinks; The care and feeding of a Hangover; and so much more.

The author and bon vivant, Charles H. Baker (1895-1987), often called the "Town & Country Gourmet" was regarded as knowledgeable in all matters of the good life and by Conde Nast as "a Gilded Age bon vivant who almost singlehandedly imported 'exotic' foreign drinks onto menus across the United States". Writing for such magazines as Esquire and Gourmet, Baker was able to explore, record, and taste his way through many continents. Interior clean, boards lightly sunned at spine. Slipcase heavily chipped at corners.