Exclusive Cocktails:

£675 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

Handsome early cocktail book with highly decorative illustrations emblematic of the late Art-Deco style by James Charles Bancks (1889-1952), noted Australian cartoonist and caricaturist. The cocktails are aptly Australian themed, such as the 'Kookaburra' or the 'Koala', and many of the ingredients feature fruity or tropical flavours. The hotelier and manager of Usher's Hotel, Sydney, T. S. Carlyon and his father, also Tom, travelled frequently to America and Europe to stay abreast of the cutting edge of trans-atlantic hospitality. His success is noticeable in the appearance of the 'Marmalade' cocktail in his first cocktail book just a year after its first appearance in the iconic Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930. Although sharing the same title with the first edition, published a year prior, that is where the similarities end: it has all new cocktails and fresh illustrations for each one, with the preface stating that the ten cocktails present are all unique recipes from Usher's which have achieved popularity in the preceding months. It is, in essence, a punchier sequel. Second edition; small 8vo (18 x 12 cm); 10 colour illustrations, publisher's original illustrated wrappers sewn with gild tie, touch of rubbing but else in fine condition; [16] pp.

• Binding: Hardcover

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