A Dictionary of Every-Day Wants Containing Twenty Thousand Receipts in Nearly Every Department of Human Effort
New York: Frank M. Reed & Co., 1875. Thick octavo, 539, [17] pages, period full leather with raised bands and gilt-lettered label to spine. Published in 1875, *A Dictionary of Every-Day Wants* by A. E. Youman is an extensive nineteenth-century American reference work containing approximately 20,000 recipes, formulas, instructions, and practical suggestions covering nearly every aspect of daily life. Arranged alphabetically for convenient reference, the volume encompasses an extraordinary range of subjects, including medicine, household remedies, cooking, agriculture, horticulture, chemistry, mechanics, manufacturing, and the various arts and trades. Of particular interest are its numerous formulas for preparing medicines, cosmetics, dyes, inks, varnishes, soaps, and other household and commercial products. The work provides a fascinating glimpse into the scientific knowledge, domestic practices, and industrial techniques of nineteenth-century America, making it an appealing historical reference for collectors of Americana, domestic economy, and the history of science and technology.
Provenance: From the library of Dr. William Woys Weaver, acclaimed American food historian and author, acquired directly from his historic home, Roughwood, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Hinges starting to crack, slight damage to spine, slight discoloration, else in very good condition. Item #708
Price: $150.00