The Savoy cocktail book by Craddock, Harry - 1930-01-01

R.R. Smith, 1930-01-01. First Edition. Hardcover. Good/No DJ. Hardcover with related ephemera, First Edition 1930 R. R. Smith 286 pages. Good, no DJ. Moderate shelf/edge wear and rubbing to black cloth spine with gilt spine titles over art deco foil boards - corners bumped and worn. Name lightly written & dated 9-15-31 across the title page. Illustrations by Gilbert Rumbold. True First Edition with page 25 having the drink recipe - Bacardi Special Cocktail. 750 cocktail recipes selected by Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel London. Laid in are clippings for drinks and holiday punches. Of particular interest is an article from the New York Times dated Sept 14, 1930 and titled SOME PUNCH RECIPES FOR THE LAW-ABIDING; Article written by C.W.B. Hurd. The two notables mentioned in the article that caught my eye were Volstead (the author of the Volstead Act) and General Smedley Butler of the U.S. Marine Corps who famously stated and wrote a book titled - War is a Racket. However the crown jewel of the ephemera is a business card with an ancient telephone exchange of TEMPLE 1-6020, Ten Minute Service titled on the front. On the back of the card is a price list for 5 alcoholic spirits and prices. It appears the card was passed out to those who would defy the Volstead Act. Call and get adult beverages delivered within 10 minutes. The card is a testimony to why ANY prohibition is doomed to fail. Prohibition ended on Dec 5th 1933, three years after this book and the article inside was printed. Per GQ - Behind every great bartender (literally) is a roughed-up, stained copy of The Savoy Cocktail Book. It's been an industry must-have since its first edition. A solid, handsome copy despite the outer wear with VERY interesting related ephemera. LOC FB-TS