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[4], 344 pp. Illustrated with wood engravings of carving instructions for meat and game, as well as steel-engraved frontispiece portrait of the author. 19½x11 cm (7¾x4¼"), later tan calf, gilt-lettered morocco spine label, raised bands, gilt pub. date to spine foot. First, and only, edition, published posthumously.

Kitchiner (c.1775-1827) wrote in his preface that he desired to provide the means "that a young Lady may learn the delectable Arcana of Domestic Affairs.which will enable her to make the Cage of Matrimony as comfortable as the Net of Courtship was charming". The information in the excellent Epicures Calendar has endured with some particularly interesting insights into bread, cheese, bacon, fish, hams &c. His first book, "The Cook's Oracle," introduced the world to his culinary skills  in 1817, many of the dishes in which he had created and tested himself - unusual at a time when copyright laws allowed for a high level of plagarism. 'The Housekeeper's Oracle' was intended to be a companion volume. Sadly, Kitchiner died before it was published and the cause was taken up by his son.