The Art of Cookery

by Hannah Glasse

Hannah Glasse was born in 1708 as the illegitmate daughter of a well-off man in Hexham, Northumberland, England.

The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy … by a Lady was certainly a success, but before the second edition appeared in 1747 John Glasse died, and was buried on 21 June 1747 at St Mary's Church, Broomfield. Earlier in the year Hannah and her daughter Margaret had opened a costumier's shop in Tavistock Street, a smart shopping area, where she attracted custom from the princess of Wales. Bubb Dodington's Journal recorded a visit in December 1749 with the prince and princess of Wales and their retinue to view a display of Hannah's costumes interspersed by conjurors and other entertainments, while the coaches of the aristocracy at her door suggested that business was flourishing. Behind this expensive façade, however, Hannah was borrowing money in quantities far in excess of her ability to repay. On 27 May 1754 a docquet of bankruptcy was granted against Hannah for debts of over £10,000. The commissioners of bankruptcy did not auction her stock as it was held in Margaret Glasse's name, but on 29 October 1754 the copyright of The Art of Cookery and the printed sheets of the fifth edition were sold to Andrew Miller and his conger (a partnership of booksellers), who were to be responsible for the Art for the next fifty years. The London Gazette of 17 December 1754 stated that Mrs Glasse would be issued with a certificate of conformity on 11 January 1755; that is, she was discharged from bankruptcy.

Bibliographic Information

Author: Hannah Glasse

Title: The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy : Which Far Exceeds any Thing of the Kind Ever Yet Published

Publication Info: London: Printed for the author, and sold at Mrs. Ashburn's, a china shop ..., 1747.

Edition:

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

Bound in later half calf with calf corners and marbled boards. Purchased from Charles Agvent.