SMITH, E.  THE COMPLEAT HOUSEWIFE: OR ACCOMPLISH'D GENTLEWOMAN'S COMPANION.

SMITH, E.  THE COMPLEAT HOUSEWIFE: OR ACCOMPLISH'D GENTLEWOMAN'S COMPANION.                                                                  

London: R. Ware, S. Birt, and others, 1750. 8vo. Contemporary full calf. Frontispiece, (xx), 392, (16, index) pages, 6 folding plates. Fourteenth edition.

The Compleat Housewife was printed in England at least eighteen times from 1727 until the end of the century.  In 1742 Smith's book was published in Williamsburg, Virginia, becoming the first American cook-book.  Several copies of Smith's book were in early Virginia including the libraries of John Mercer, Fielding Lewis of Fredericksburg, and Daniel Parke Custis (first husband of Martha Washington).  The book championed English cooking at a time when the upper classes were importing French cooks.  The book has approximately six hundred "receipts in cookery, pastry, confectionary, preserving, pickles, cakes, creams, jellies, made wines, and cordials," along with three hundred receipts of medicines.  Bookplate.  Early owner's signature on title page.  Professionally respined, else very good.

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