8vo. 247pp, [1]. Handsomely bound in contemporary blind-tooled half-morocco, marbled paper boards, contrasting tan morocco lettering-piece. Clean and crisp. With a loosely inserted A.L.S. dated 29th May, 1979: 'Dear Mrs. Poulson, Thank you so very much for your letter of May 9th. My goodness, that binding sounds very grand indeed - too much so I am afraid for my very simple little. It was only my second effort, and it all needs rewriting. Oh well, its a period piece now I suppose - Thank you for the very kind things you say - I appreciate your words very much indeed - yours Elizabeth David'.

The first edition of Elizabeth David's (1913-1992) culinary classic, together with a typically modest autograph letter.

Her second published book, following on from the immensely successful A Book of Mediterranean Food (1950), French Country Cooking introduced the British public to the delectable recipes commonly cooked in rural France; a public no doubt hungry for culinary indulgence at a time when rationing was still in force.