Barflies and Cocktails: Over 300 Cocktail Receipts
Paris: Lecram Press, 1927. First edition. Black and white photos, cartoons by Wynn. Hardcover. 6 1/4" high. [iv], 112 pages. Professionally rebacked with plain cloth spine. Minor extremity wear to boards with a few old scattered stains. Binding sound.
An important and scarce cocktail mixing guide by one of the 20th century's most influential bartenders, Harry McElhone. Harry had tended bar at the Plaza in New York and Ciro's in London before opening his own place in Paris. "Harry's New-York Bar," as it was called, was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and other American ex-pats.
Harry is often credited with inventing several cocktails including the Bloody Mary, the sidecar, and the boulevardier. Illustrated throughout with delightful drawings by Wynn Holcomb. Great period ads for liquor. There are also two black and white photos of scenes inside Harry's bar.
There is an inscription dated Paris, Dec. 6 1927 on front free endpaper, along with two prior owner names. The last is dated Paris, July 1928.
A nice copy of this historic mixing guide from 1920s Paris.
OCLC locates just 3 copies.
Item #1201
Price: $2,750