LA VARENNE (François-Pierre de). Le Cuisinier françois enseignant la manière de bien aprêter & assaisonner toutes sortes de viandes gras & maigres, Légumes & Pâtisseries, &c. Revû, corrigé, & augmenté un Traité de Confitures sèches & liquides, & autres delicatesses bouche. Revised, corrected, & augmented with a Treatise on dry & liquid jams, & other delicacies. Ensemble d'une Table Alphabétique des Matières qui sont traitées dans tout le livre. Rouen, Jean Oursel, s.d. (1735). Small in-12, ivory vellum (contemporary binding). A rare new edition of this great classic of French gastronomy, first published in 1651. It is one of the first cookery books to present nearly 700 recognisable recipes that can be used by everyone. "The book was probably not the most revolutionary of its time, but it nevertheless marked the beginning of a new era. (Livres en bouche. p. 135). The work was so successful that it was reprinted more than thirty times until 1738. This very rare edition is part of the Blue Library of Rouen. A modestly faded copy, margins soiled, handwritten notes on the vellum, missing the first leaf (fx-title?). Annotation verso last leaf "Ce livre appartient à françois Légeare agent des affaires du sgr des Routtis proche ST Maurice ...15 mars 1750". Annotation repeating that on page 182, where he describes himself as a caretaker. Vicaire, 500.