Just looking at my current copy I see it is the 54th edition of the De Luxe Edition first published in 1955. Of course the very first edition appeared way back before World War One in 1907 and since then more than three million copies have been sold.The word icon is widley over-used but I think it is fair to describe this remarkable book in that way.
Now you can read the 1914 edition courtesy of the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre at Wellington's Victoria University.
Many of the recipes have long gone out of fashion but I was amused by this little ditty:
Do you love me? said the cup to the custard.
I'm just brimming up in you replied the custard.
You sweet thing answered the cup.
Delightful.
Which was followed by this little homily : A Golden Rule - hold fast to that which is good.
If you would like to view the 1914 edition click on this link.
Love the recipe for tennis buns. My grandmother used to make these!
ReplyDeleteI hate that word iconic because of its abuse but I agree with you, I think it is fair to use it with regard to this book.
I have several copies of the Edmonds (as well such wonders as the Aunt Daisy & Tui's cookbooks) but it is good to be able to read this first edition...girdle scones eh? The greataunts used to whip these up in minutes to fend off their starving
ReplyDeletegrandnieces&nevvies- melting butter &the added homemade gooseberry or blackcurrant jams (or golden syrup if you were really in luck)...enjoy the site, by the by, and check in regularly now-
Yes, girdle scones, that tugs the old memory chords. My great aunts, and now I'm as old as they were back then in the 50's, used to make them all the time.
ReplyDeleteLike you Islander I am now a regular visitor to this site.Thanks Bookman, it must be a lot of work!