48 pp. 8¼x5, period straight-grain red morocco. First Edition.
Presentation copy inscribed and signed on the front flyleaf by the author to his daughter-in-law Martha Peale (wife of C.W. Peale's eldest son Raphaelle Peale), "Presented to Mrs. Martha Peale, By her affectionate father, C.W. Peale, May 5th, 1805," with the ownership signature of Martha Peale on the title-page. Additionally, and of prime importance, there are bound following the text some 24 leaves, once blank, now covered with manuscript recipes - on the leaf following the printed text is mounted a 5x4" slip of paper signed by Rembrandt Peale (second son of C.W. Peale), with a recipe for "Tonic & opening Pills for correcting a tendency to disorders of the Liver." Many of the other recipes are also in Rembrandt Peale's hand, and all of them are contemporary hands that are at least quite similar but have not been positively identified as that of Rembrandt Peale, though if not by him, undoubtedly by other family members. Among the many concoctions in manuscript are: "on Making Ink"; "Wine"; "Friccasseed Rabbits"; "Cure for the bite of a Snake"; "To Take down inflamation of the heal a bruise"; "To roast a goose"; and many others. Most of the recipes are upside-down to the text, so they may be read, right-side up, from the back of the book. The book itself is quite scarce and significant, a product of the enormous intellect that was Charles Willson Peale, renowned artist, antiquary and natural historian (not to mention carpenter, dentist, shoemaker and museum-keeper). He married three times, fathering 16 children, among them Raphaelle, Rembrandt and Titian, the foundation of an artistic dynasty that was to last nearly a century. No copies of this book, signed or unsigned, have sold at auction over the last 30 years, according to the American Book Prices Current. Shaw and Shoemaker 4829.
Condition:
Covers scuffed and worn but still holding together, front free endpaper lacking, rear detached as are a few ancillary leaves, well foxed within with some soiling, good condition overall, with highly important association and manuscript additions.