CRADDOCK, Harry ( H. PARKER ). The Savoy Cocktail Book [ SIGNED AND INSCRIBED TO CONTEMPORARY MIXOLOGIST with ORIGINAL COCKTAIL RECIPE MANUSCRIPT PAGES ]. New York: Richard R. Smith Inc, 1930.

Fourth Printing 1931 statement at copyright page. Octavo, original illustrated gold foil over boards. Gilbert Rumbold cover art and illustrations. This copy rather significant for being inscribed (at printing page) to 'H. Parker', inventor of several cocktails, three* of which are found in the 1937 printing of Tarling's Cafe Royal Cocktail Book. Despite Craddock's inscription appearing to be to 'T. Parker' the four sheets of 7 by 4 1/2 lined notepad paper laid in states 'List compiled of Cocktails / invented by H. Parker / 29/8/39'. Oddly, 'H. Parker' includes in his 'List' a drink called 'The Melody' which is cited in Tarling's Cafe Royal as being invented by 'G. W. Parker'. Is it possible nobody really knew what Mr. Parker's first name was? Or perhaps the Parker family were all bartenders? Tarling states in his preface that most of the recipes in his book are originals of 'Members of the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild'. Given how Mr. Parker wrote the date in the British way, one can assume he was likely a member of the UK Bartender's Guild. Handwritten cocktail recipes in his list of inventions are: Pink Charlie, Courvoisier Suprema, The Melody (in Cafe Royale), All In, Lonely Lady, Coronation, Piccolo Pete, Pluto, Devil's Torch (in Cafe Royale), Rejuvenation, Victoria Club, Adonis, BBC, Alexander, Barcarde, Appetizer, Blossom, Apricot, Dullonet and a few repeats. Oddly missing is the third drink found in Cafe Royal and attributed to H. Parker is the 'How Zat' but perhaps another sheet long ago fell out of the book. Recipes are assumed to be handwritten by Mr. H. Parker himself. A Poor copy, spine detached but present, covers well worn, front cover holding by threads, general staining to pages.

Price: $2,500.00