THE SAVOY COCKTAIL BOOK. Gift copy inscribed by Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak during Prohibition.
New York, NY: Richard R. Smith, 1930. First edition, 2nd printing. Hardcover. Octavo (8vo). Very good- condition. Item #020148
286 pages of text. This is the 2nd printing, with the first six pages unnumbered, and the "Additional Cocktails" including the "Bacardi Cocktail" on pages 282-283 rather than on an inserted slip. Original gold. green, black and gray decorated foil-covered binding is moderately worn, especially to the corners, and the black cloth spine is torn and starting to detach; protected in custom-fitted archival Mylar. There are a few small stains to the page edges, and the entirety of the text is moderately foxed. Inscribed and signed by Anton Cermak in silver ink during the short time he was in office serving as Chicago Mayor (April 7, 1931 to March 6, 1933). Cermak died from wounds caused by an assassin's bullet fired three weeks prior to his death (February 15th) toward President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The inscription "To Tom Bowler From A J Cermak Mayor" on this cocktail book was made during the Prohibition Era (1920-1933), when the United States prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Harry Craddock was a master bartender and is credited with inventing "White Lady" and "Corpse Reviver No. 2" while working at the Savoy Hotel in London. He collected about 750 bar recipes, added some thrilling narrative (i.e. Third Rail Cocktail No. 2 is described as being "Simply splendid. Better than 11,000 volts") and published them in this Art Deco publication.
Price: $1,275.00