Histoire des Champignons Comestibles et Vénéneux

Roques, J. Historie des Champignons Comestibles et Veneneux. (2nd Ed) Fortin, Masso et Cie: Paris, 1841. 8vo (225x140mm) half bnd red morocco, marbled bds, [4],482,[2]pp. In French. Lacks accompaning volume of plates

ROQUES, J [Dr Joseph (1772-1850)]

Histoire des Champignons Comestibles et Vénéneux, ou l'on expose leurs caractères distinctifs, leurs propriétés alimentaires et économiques, leurs effets nuisibles et les moyens de s'en garantir ou d'y rémedier.

Paris : Fortin, Masson et Cie., Libraires-Éditeurs, 1841.  Second edition, revised and extended. Printed by Bethune et Plon, Paris.

Octavo (225x140mm) nineteenth century half bound red morocco, gilt  ruled and lettered spine raised bands, six compartments, marbled boards, top edges gilt, [4],482,[4 blank]pp. In French. 

Lacks the accompanying volume of colour plates (as usual). Board edges and corners lightly worn; head cap, joints and joints boards lightly scuffed; end-papers age-toned; light foxing throughout not affecting the 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. A nice copy.

§  OCLC records 30 holdings in Europe and North America.
§  Vicaire 749; Mykolibri, 1793;