A Book of Mediterranean Food; Italian Food; French Country Cooking; French Provincial Cooking; Summer Cooking; Elizabeth David's Christmas; An Omelette and a Glass of Wine

This is Folio Society's complete (to date) collection of cookbooks from British cookery writer Elizabeth David, featuring colourful, pictorial boards and beautiful illustrations by Sophie MacCarthy. A rather joyful collection from the writer who influenced the revitalisation of home cookery in the UK. 

All books are in near-fine condition, clean and free of wear, with pages immaculate and tightly bound. All slipcases are in very good condition and structurally-sound, with a little light shelf-wear and minimal innocuous bumping to one or two corners, with the exception of some small stains to the bottom panel of the slipcase for the Omelette volume (penultimate photo), and some heavier knocks and rubbing to the slipcase of the Italian volume (sixth photo); else excellent. A very beautiful set.

Included herewith:

A Book of Mediterranean Food, and Other Writings, Elizabeth David. London: The Folio Society, 2005. Second printing thus. Preface by Julian Barnes, decorations by John Minton, watercolours by Sophie MacCarthy. 253 × 186 × 30 mm. Pp. [i–ix] x–xxii, [1–5] 6–265 [266]: [9] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], 27, 42, 75, 90, 122, 139, [154] and 171). Type: Bembo. Printed by the Saint Edmundsbury Press. Bound by Hunter and Foulis in quarter dark green buckram, white paper boards with a design in shades of green, yellow and black by MacCarthy; dark green endleaves. Dark green slip case. The main text is reprinted from the second edition of 1958, with Minton’s original sketches and pictorial divisional-titles.

[together with]

Italian Food, Elizabeth David. London: The Folio Society, 2005. Third printing thus. Illustrations by Sophie MacCarthy. With a foreword by Terence Conran. 252 × 187 × 32 mm. Pp. [i–v] vi–xxx, [1] 2–298: [9] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], 18, 35, 66, 83, 146, 163, 211 and [226]). Type: Bembo. Printed and bound by Cambridge University Press. Quarter dark red buckram, white paper boards with a design in shades of green and purple by MacCarthy; green endleaves. Green slip case.

[together with]

French Provincial Cooking, Elizabeth David. London: The Folio Society, 2005. First printing thus. Preface by Simon Hopkinson, decorations by Juliet Renny, water colours by Sophie MacCarthy. 252 × 186 × 42 mm. Pp. [i–v] vi–xxv [xxvi–xxviii], [1] 2–500: [9] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], 100, 117, 148, 212, 229, 277, 292 and 420). Type: Bembo. Printed by Memminger MedienCentrum. Bound by Real Lachenmaier in quarter dark brown buckram, white paper boards with a design by MacCarthy; dark green endleaves. Dark green slip case.

[together with]

French Country Cooking, Elizabeth David. London: The Folio Society, 2005. First printing thus. Preface by Artemis Cooper, decorations by John Minton, watercolours by Sophie MacCarthy. 252 × 186 × 26 mm. Pp. [i–ix] x–xv [xvi], [1–7] 8–222 [223–224]: [9] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], 48, 80, 97, 112, 144, 161, 176 and 193). Type: Bembo. Printed by Memminger Medien Centrum. Bound by Real Lachenmaier in quarter green buckram, white paper boards with a design by MacCarthy; green endleaves. Dark green-grey slip case.

[together with]

Summer Cooking, Elizabeth David. London: The Folio Society, 2009. First printing thus. Preface by Rose Prince, decorations by Adrian Daintrey, watercolours by Sophie MacCarthy. 252 × 186 × 28 mm. Pp. [i–ix] x–xiv, [1–3] 4–258: [9] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], 83, 98, 146, 163, 179, 194, 210 and 227). Type: Bembo. Printed by Martins of Berwick. Bound by Hunter and Foulis in quarter red buckram, white paper boards with a design by MacCarthy; red endleaves. Dark green slip case.

[together with]

Elizabeth David’s Christmas. London: The Folio Society, 2012. First printing thus. Edited by Jill Norman, foreword by Lisa Chaney, illustrated by Sophie MacCarthy. 252 × 184 × 28 mm. Pp. [i–v] vi–xviii, [1–3] 4–200 [201–206]: [7] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], 31, 46, 78, 110, 127 and 174). Type: Bembo. Printed by Memminger MedienCentrum. Bound by Real Lachen maier in quarter dark green buckram, paper boards with a design by MacCarthy; dark green endleaves. Dark green slip case.

[together with]

An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, Elizabeth David. London: The Folio Society, 2016. First printing thus. Edited by Jill Norman, preface by Johnny Grey, decorations by Marie Alix, watercolours by Sophie MacCarthy. 253 × 186 × 32 mm. Pp. [i–v] vi–xxv [xxvi–xxviii], [1–3] 4–346 [347–348]: [8] leaves of colour plates (facing pp. [iii], [36], [68], 101, 181, 229, 292 and 309). Type: Bembo. Printed by Memminger MedienCentrum. Bound by Real Lachenmaier in quarter blue buckram, paper boards with a design by MacCarthy; blue endleaves. Blue slip case. A collection of David’s articles originally pub lished in newspapers and magazines.