Hunger

HUNGER

"TRUE MASTERPIECES OF MALICIOUS WIT"

Gilles Ménage's Epulum Parasiticum (Nürnberg 1665, 12mo) offers satirical biographical vignettes of the gossipy and gluttonous social parasite Pierre de Montmaur. The preface examines the role of the parasite in ancient literature. First Collected Edition.

DIETETIC LAUGHTER

Antoine de Balinghem's Apres Dinees et Propos de Table (Saint-Omer 1624, 8vo) comprises six post-prandial discussions between a prince and his seven dinner guests—plus his irreverent jester. They ruminate on drunkenness, gluttony, mirabilia, Chinese beverages, the medical aspects of food and more. First Complete Edition.

"THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE LIVING SKELETONS"

Joseph de Cissé gives the full skinny on the anatomical man, Claude-Ambrois Seurat (Bologna 1833, 4to). This is the Italian translation of his original promotional pamphlet, outlining Seurat's bio, diet, gait and medical history. His last recorded performance was in 1833. From the collection of Ricky Jay.

"FOR LAWYERS, STUDENTS AND OTHERS WHO GET LITTLE EXERCISE"

Ludovicus Nonnius, known as the father of modern dietetics, surveys the eating and drinking habits of Europeans (Antwerp 1627, 8vo). Counter to common wisdom, he promoted seafood as part of a healthy diet. The book closes with a six-language food dictionary. First Edition.

PUT A FORK IN IT

This pattern and price book illustrates steel knives and forks manufactured at Solingen—the "City of Blades" (Düsseldorf after 1732, folio). The section on forks has over a hundred watercolors of everything from large carving tools to dainty dessert utensils. There is an entire section on handles. The longest portion addresses knives for every kind of worker from cooks to cobblers.

BERRIES, WINE & #!*%

A compilation of three agricultural treatises: Christian Thon on the cultivation of currants and gooseberries for wine (Rudolstadt 1817, 8vo), Fredrich Walther on manure (Anspach 1787, 8vo) and August Fischer on his "newly invented" fertilizer for gardeners (Magdeburg 1795, 8vo). The first two are first editions.

GARDENING FOR KIDS

Charles Estienne's horticultural primers for children (Paris 1536, 8vo and Paris 1539, 8vo) instruct on the cultivation of fruit trees and provide a general guide to plants. The second is dedicated to the eight-year-old Henri II Estienne, called here Henriculus. Adorable.

"TRUE MASTERPIECES OF MALICIOUS WIT"

﻿DIETETIC LAUGHTER

"THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE LIVING SKELETONS"

"FOR LAWYERS, STUDENTS AND OTHERS WHO GET LITTLE EXERCISE"

PUT A FORK IN IT

BERRIES, WINE & #!*%

GARDENING FOR KIDS

DIETETIC LAUGHTER