Gilt-lettered brown cloth. First Edition.
This is the second published cookbook in the U.S. to be written by an African-American woman, and the third to be published by any African-American. Fisher, born a slave in Orangeburg, SC, moved to San Francisco after the Civil War and became a successful caterer, known for her recipes like oyster pie and pepper mangoes. She and her husband owned a pickle factory in San Francisco, where she won numerous awards for her preserves at county fairs. Mrs. Fisher was illiterate, and had a friend help her write her book. Because the San Francisco fire of 1906 destroyed so many copies of it, the extant copies are quite rare.
I find her “Preface and Apology” extremely moving: “The publication of a book on my knowledge and experience of Southern Cooking, Pickle and Jelly Making, has been frequently asked of me by my lady friends and patrons in San Francisco and Oakland, and also by ladies of Sacramento during the State Fair in 1879. Not being able to read or write myself, and my husband also having been without the advantages of an education – upon whom would devolve the writing of the book at my dictation – caused me to doubt whether I would be able to present a work that would give perfect satisfaction. But, after due consideration, I concluded to bring forward a book of my knowledge – based on an experience of upwards of thirty-five years – in the art of cooking Soups, Gumbos, Terrapin Stews, Meat Stews, Baked and Roast Meats, Pastries, Pies and Biscuits, making Jellies, Pickles, Sauces, Ice-creams and Jams, preserving Fruits, etc. The book will be found a complete instructor, so that a child can understand it and learn the art of cooking.”
Condition:
Chewing, as if by a rodent, to upper cover edges (particularly rear cover), one more bite to lower rear hinge, and small holes to cloth along rear upper hinge. Fading to covers, faint staining to cloth & endpapers, still good.