Forum Rare Books | Rare Books

< Back

Manual on the making of inexpensive liquor

[PONCELET, Polycarpe].
Chimie du gout et de l'odorat, ou principes pour composer facilement, & à peu de frais, les liqueurs à boire, & les eaux de senteurs.

With engraved frontispiece of a distillery by B. Audran after a drawing by the author and 6 engraved plates of distillatory instruments, woodcut of musical notation, each note designating a particular essence, charming engraved headpiece by Audran.

Paris, P.G. Le Mercier, 1755. 8vo. Contemp. calf, spine gilt in compartments, red morocco title label lettered in gold. With engraved frontispiece of a distillery by B. Audran after a drawing by the author and 6 engraved plates of distillatory instruments, woodcut of musical notation, each note designating a particular essence, charming engraved headpiece by Audran. XXVI, 27-390, (2) pp.

First edition of this rare work on a method to compose at low expenses liqueurs and eau de cologne, published anonymously but written by Polycarpe Poncelet (c.1720-c.1780). The work is divided into 4 parts, preceded by a discourse on the salubrity of liqueur and on the harmony of flavours; the first part is dedicated to the explanation of general principles of the composition of liqueurs and eaux de cologne, the second part treats the qualities of different ingredients and gives various recipes for drinks including those for absinthe and liqueurs made from orange flower, coffee, anis and cassis. The third part is devoted to simple infusions and includes recipes using nuts, quince, cherries and apricots. The fourth is a discours on the olfaction and on odors and provides recipes for scents and perfumes. The work is concluded by a dictionary with detailed descriptions of chemical terms used in the production of liqueurs and essences, followed by a vocabulary list.
Poncelet belonged to the ordre des Récollets, and gained a great reputation through his works and his experiments with wheat and meal. Poncelet's work was republished in 1773, 1774 and 1800 under the title Nouvelle chimie du gout et de l'odorat... , in 2 volumes. In 1829 a book with the same title was published, but signed M.G.***, according to Barbier the initials of Gauthier, a professor of Chemistry. According to the OCLC and to Vicaire, Bibliographie Gastronomique, this work shows a lot of similarities with the work by Poncelet. Gauthier has used the recipes of Poncelet, but slightly modified certain terms. The original edition of 1755 was also republished in 1993. The work was translated into Italian in 1792.

Reasonable copy given to Is. van den Berghen, Lucern, 8 Dec. 1761.- (Frontcover scratched, hinges weak, slightly soiled throughout.)

Caillet, 8822 (ed. of 1773); Vicaire, Bibliographie Gastronomique, col. 171; Bitting, Gastronomic Bibliography, p. 376 (ed. of 1780 and ed. of Gauthier).

Related Subjects: 18th Century Chemistry France Gastronomy Manuals

Add to Shopping cart

€ 1.250,00

Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.

< Back

Terms of sale

All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.

Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.

Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale

E-mail this to a friend

Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands

Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com