Bacco in Toscana.

£6,000 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Simon BG p. 1268. Bookplate of Richard Bethell, 4th Baron Westbury (1914-61), distinguished collector of cookery books. “One of the most famous panegyrics on wine ever written” (Simon). First edition of this famous poem which describes the virtues of wine and the benefits of moderate drinking. He extols in particular the finest wines of Tuscany and the poem concludes with the assertion that of all the wines Montepulciano is king. The poem enjoyed great success throughout Europe and reached the English court of King William III; Redi’s poem may be responsible for William’s preference for Tuscan wines and for the decision to send an English delegation to Tuscany with the purpose of acquiring for the English court wines such as Moscadello di Montecalcino and Vino nobile di Montepulciano.The poem is found on the first 64 pages, and is followed by extensive annotations which not only speak further about wine but also describe other beverages. There is a long description of chocolate (pp. 29-33), followed by a poem on the subject by Tommaso Strozzi, and on p. 199 is described Candiero, a newly invented sort of drink which appears to be a sweet frozen egg dish. A recipe in a poem by Lorenzo Magalotti begins: egg yolks, barely cooked, should be beaten in spotless porcelain, and when beaten and frothy, sugar should be added. Francisco Redi was physician to Ferdinando and Cosimo III and was the author of many works relating to natural history, but is particularly known for this famous

• Binding: Hardcover

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