COCKTAILS - WHEELER, Charles Van Cise.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Life and Letters of Henry William Thomas, Mixologist. Second edition, inscribed by the author on the title page, "To Malcolm and Eleanor, compliments Charles Van Cise, may the spirit of these pages be with us evermore". This is one of 1000 copies.This work, published at the height of American prohibition, contains cocktail recipes, drinking songs, and imaginary toasts from Henry William Thomas, whom H. L. Mencken considered a bartender of the "highest skill and most delicate prudence" (quoted in Brown). Charles Wheeler (c.1866-1941) was a frequent customer of Thomas and a collector of antiquities; his collection of over 1,000 items boasted Chinese Pottery, Japanese swords, carvings, and Greek and Roman coins. This edition is institutionally uncommon, Firstsearch placing it in the libraries of seven institutions. The first edition of this work was privately published in 1926 in duplicated typescript and issued in a very small number. Firstsearch places the first edition in the libraries of five institutions.

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