Toussaint

1932 · réf. 38924 — Paris and/or Pau 1932. A HOLOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT COOKBOOK INITIALED TWICE BY FRANZ TOUSAINT 1879-1955 famed Orientalist author poet screenwriter and translator. The title-page asserts that "Aucune de ces recettes ne se trouve dans un livre de cuisine". The preface initialed by Toussaint asserts that Toussaint's great-grandfather the Général Baron Toussaint 1772-1827 was friends with Grimod de la Reynière they lived in the same building on the Champs-Elysées a building that later became the American Embassy. Many of the recipes date to the 1820s and earlier. A later note in Toussaint´s hand after the preface: "Recettes relues en pleine famine 1944." An inserted slip dated 1949 and initialed by Toussaint adds: "Ce carnet ne doit être prêté à personne quelle que soit la personne et quel que soit le prétexte." 43 pages of French recipes follow written in ink in Toussaint´s minuscule but extremely clear and legible hand "La seule vraie recette pour la bouillabaisse" "truffes à la maréchale" "poulet à la mistral" "la bécasse Louis XV" and many many others. Four blank leaves follow obviously left blank so more French recipes could be included if necessary. Then there are 3 pages of Turkish and Arab recipes 2 blank leaves and one page of rice dishes. Then a blank leaf and a tomato recipe. Then two blank leaves then a bound-in ticket to the "Exposition coloniale internationale" held in Paris in 1931 ! then seven more blank leaves. Then 7 pages of sauce recipes then another blank leaf. Then 2 pages of recipes for stuffings and then 5 more blank leaves. Then a page with recipes for crème anglaise and crème au chocolat and then 4 more blank leaves. Then 3 pages of dessert recipes including "Pêches en seins de Vénus" and then another blank leaf. Then a page of recipes for "oranges confites" and "jus d'oranges sic confit" and then 5 more blank leaves. Then 4 pages of recipes for coctails and then 7 more blank leaves. And finally a table of wines followed by 2 final blank leaves. On fine Sorel-Moussel wove paper with a moleskine-type cover with Toussaint's bookplate and inkstamp on preliminary blank. 12mo 17.5 x 11 cm. Tiny traces of wear to binding else FINE AND BRIGHT. Unique and worthy of publication. unknown