Histoire des Champignons Comestibles et Vénéneux

Roques, J. Historie des Champignons Comestibles et Veneneux. (2nd Ed) (Edition du Cours d'Agriculture) Mme Croissant, Libraire: Paris, 1856. 8vo (225x140mm) qtr bnd burgundy morocco, marbled bds, [4],482,[2]pp. In French. Published without plates.

ROQUES, Joseph [Dr (1772-1850)]

Histoire des Champignons Comestibles et Vénéneux (Édition du Cours d'Agriculture.)

Paris : Mme Croissant, Libraire, Éditeur de la Collection Culinaire d'Antonin Careme, 1856.  Second edition, later impression. Printed by de W Remquet et Cie., Paris.

Octavo (225x140mm) contemporary quarter bound smooth burgundy morocco, gilt lettered spine blind-ruled into five compartments, marbled boards, all edges speckled red, [6],482,[4 blank]pp. In French.  Published as a school text, apparently without the accompanying atlas of colour plates.      

Owner signature "....Paris Mai 1867" to half-title; board edges and corners lightly worn; head cap and joints faintly scuffed; light foxing to half-title and title-page; faint occasional fine spotting not affecting text. 

A second edition of "one of the most important early works on the use of wild fungi as food in France with lots of interesting experiences and observations. Roques, a physician and botanist, introduced mushroom-eating to many of his contemporaries, giving courses of instruction at Versailles. He was related to the famous cook Carême and to the first French gastronomical author, La Reyniere ("Almanach des Gourmands"), with whom he gathered fungi near Paris. Roques has his own recipes and quotes some from the famous gastronomes of his time. He has 4 recipes for morels, 4 different preparations for Bolets, 10 for "champignons", 6 for mousserons, 6 for Amanita caesarea and 15 for truffles" (C. Volbracht).

Scarce. An excellent copy.

§  OCLC records only one holding this edition and imprint, BnF.
§  Vicaire 749; Mykolibri, 1793, this edition not mentioned, cf earlier editions;