Valuable Secrets Concerning Arts and Trades:. Or, Approved Directions, from the best Artists, For the Various Methods of Engraving on Brass, Copper, or Steel. Of the Composition of Metals, and Varnishes. Of Mastichs and Cements, Sealing-wax, &c. Of Colours and Painting, for Carriage Painters. Of Painting on Paper. On Compositions for Limners. Of Transparent Colours. How to dye Skins or Gloves. To colour or varnish Copper-plate Prints. Of Painting on Glass. Of Colours of all Sorts, for Oil, Water, and Crayons. Of the Art of Gilding. The Art of dying Woods, Bones, &c. The Art of Moulding. The Art of making Wines. Of the various Compositions of Vinegars. Of Liquors and essential Oils. Of the Confectionary Art. Of taking out all Sorts of Spots and Stains.
Norwich: Thomas Hubbard, 1795.
One of the Earliest American Books of its Kind
[COOKERY].[ART]. Valuable Secrets Concerning Arts and Trades: Or, Approved Directions, from the best Artists, For the Various Methods of Engraving on Brass, Copper, or Steel. Of the Composition of Metals, and Varnishes. Of Mastichs and Cements, Sealing-wax, &c. Of Colours and Painting, for Carriage Painters. Of Painting on Paper. On Compositions for Limners. Of Transparent Colours. How to dye Skins or Gloves. To colour or varnish Copper-plate Prints. Of Painting on Glass. Of Colours of all Sorts, for Oil, Water, and Crayons. Of the Art of Gilding. The Art of dying Woods, Bones, &c. The Art of Moulding. The Art of making Wines. Of the various Compositions of Vinegars. Of Liquors and essential Oils. Of the Confectionary Art. Of taking out all Sorts of Spots and Stains. Norwich: Thomas Hubbard 1795
First American edition, one of two American editions published in 1795. Twelvemo (6 1/2 x 4 inches; 164 x 100 mm). [2], xxii, 240 pp. This work is a translation of the anonymous French text "Secrets concernant les arts et metiers" and gives practical advice on all manner of arts and crafts. We could find no copies of either American edition at auction, or in WorldCat.
Full modern calf. Spine ruled in gilt. Previous owner's old ink signature on title-page. Some usual smudging and toning to pages. Paper flaw and tear to bottom margin of leaf L2, not affecting text. Overall a very good copy.
In addition to numerous instructions and directions for accomplishing various tasks and crafts, this book also contains a number of recipes for cooking and is listed in the "Bibliography of American Cookery Books 1742-1860" by Eleanor Lowenstein.
"Inexplicably, two American editions of this work were issued in the same year, 1795, in locations far removed from one another: the first to appear in the New World. One was published in Philadelphia under the title One Thousand Valuable Secrets in the Elegant and Useful Arts, having been printed for the booksellers by B. Davies and T. Stephens; the other was issued by the Norwich, Connecticut, printer Thomas Hubbard under the more familiar title Valuable Secrets Concerning the Arts and Trades. While each differed slightly in the arrangement of some material, they were reprintings of the familiar British work (which itself was said to have been a translation of a popular French work)..." (Marbled Paper, Wolfe. 112).
Lowenstein 10. Evans 29243. Sabin 98399. ESTC W2441.
HBS 68552.
$1,250.
Price: $1,250.00
Item #68552