THE BOOK OF BREAD, 1903

THE BOOK OF BREAD, 1903

Rare deluxe edition, limited to 350 copies, of Owen Simmons' famed technical manual for professional bread bakers. 4to, with 10-tipped in silver bromide prints mounted to black card, and 12 additional, chromolithographed plates, with photographic illustrations throughout the text. Original red morocco, gilt lettering and border to upper cover, overall measuring 28 x 21.5cm, in fine condition.

Originally published by Owen Simmons as a companion to his "most excellent Book of Cakes", The Book of Bread is now recognised as a rare and distinctive publication in the history of the early photography book -- one that mixed written instruction with example photographs, as well as Simmons' own quirky and confident tone. Simmons, a lecturer at London's National Bakery School, commissioned an unidentified photographer to take pictures of his prize loaves, writing, "However critical readers might be, they will be forced to admit that never before have they seen such a complete collection of prize loaves illustrated in such an excellent manner."

Literature:

Parr & Badger, The Photobook: A History, Volume I. London: Phaidon, 2004, p.56.

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