A New System of Domestic Cookery

A Lady. A New System of Domestic Economy. (New Ed) T J Allman: London, [ca.1862-1879]. 8vo (170x105mm) gilt & blind stamped red-brown cloth bds xxx,351,[1]pp. fp, 9 plates. Bds rubbed, hinges cracked; t.e soiled; sm signs of kitchen use

 [RUNDELL, Maria Eliza née Ketelby Rundell (1745-1828)]

A New System of Domestic Cookery, formed upon principles of economy and adapted to the use of private families by a Lady with the addition of many new receipts.  New Edition.

London : T.J. Allman, 463 Oxford Street, W.C. circa 1862-1879¹.   Printed by Lewis & Son, Printers, Swan Buildings, Moorgate Street.


Octavo (170x105mm) publisher's gilt & blind stamped red-brown cloth boards [22], xxx, 351,[1]pp : [A²], B-2B⁸, [2C]⁸, [2D²]. Engraved frontispiece, "Domestic Economy" of  a pantry, kitchen dresser and table with game, meat and fish and a cook in the background (a cruder and plainer mirror image of the original John Murray published engraving), nine out-of-text engraved plates illustrating cuts of meat, carving and trussing.  plates. Boards edges rubbed, head and tail of spine gently pushed and rubbed; gilt faded and worn; hinges cracked but holding; top edge soiled; small signs of kitchen use.

First published anonymously (as was the fashion) in 1805, when Rundell was 62, A New System was a popular success and was promptly reprinted a number of times until the 1860s.  Noted for its practical and sensible outlook,  A New System addressed the need for the emerging middle classes in the late Georgian period for a manual for household management.  Between 1814 and 1821 there was a protracted dispute between the author and publisher over the promotion of the book and the proceeds of sale, which Rundell had originally disavowed in her preface.  The dispute was ultimately resolved by John Murray buying the copyright for future editions; later editions included contributions from other authors.    Various branches of the Allman family published A New System numerous times  in the earlier half of the nineteenth century.  This edition is one of the last published and appears to be a reprint of an early edition but with a new, much more simple frontispiece.  The quality of the paper and printing suggest a budget edition.


A late published working copy of one of the classic cookery books of the English tradition.

§  OCLC records 1 holding of this edition; British Library Reference Collection.
§  This edition not recorded in the usual bibliographies; cf Cagle & Stafford 971-977, Axford p.297, Oxford p.135, Bitting p.410; Simon BG 1319-1332; Vicaire 812; all alternate editions.
¹  The period when Allman carried on business at this address.  British Library Reference Collection records the date of publication as 1870.