Gaige, Crosby (1882-1949)

The Standard Cocktail Guide [1944 Archive - Handwritten Recipes & Waldorf-Astoria Glassware Illustrations]

New York: M. Barrows & Company, 1944.
More than a mere manual, Crosby Gaige’s guide is a witty philosophical treatise on the art of conviviality. Gaige, a celebrated theatrical producer and bon vivant, captures the trends, fancies, and quirks of mid-century drinking culture.

This specific copy serves as a time capsule, containing a personal archive of laid-in mixology ephemera from a previous 'American Host'.

KEY FEATURES 
+++ The Archive: Includes several 1940s-era newspaper clippings (Toby Punch, Bacardi Holiday Eggnog), a handwritten recipe for a Manhattan, and a typed sheet featuring Irvin Cobb's Egg Nog and Bellevue Eggnog. 
+++ Visuals: Illustrated with striking black-and-white plates of the Waldorf-Astoria’s famous glassware service, including Tom Collins, Delmonico, and Old-fashioned vessels. 
+++ Content: Features legendary recipes like the Zombie, the Beachcomber, and the Daiquiri, alongside Gaige’s sophisticated commentary on spirits. 
+++ Specs: Diminutive 6.25-inch 'pocket' format; 128 pages with a comprehensive index.

CONDITION Grade:  Good -- Bindings are tight and square. The text is remarkably clean with light, toning. The pinkish-red cloth boards show moderate shelf handling and minor soiling consistent with kitchen use. Ephemera has caused slight 'ghosting' to some pages, a hallmark of its archival history. Third printing.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
Crosby Gaige was the definitive arbiter of taste in 1940s New York. This guide was released during the height of WWII, a time when 'The American Host' was redefining social rituals. The inclusion of the Waldorf-Astoria’s glassware highlights the shift toward the 'Cocktail Hour' as a sophisticated, theatrical event.

SUBJECTS: Mixology, Cocktail History, 1940s Americana, Waldorf-Astoria, Crosby Gaige, Culinary Ephemera, Bartending Guides, Cookbooks & Gastronomy, Reference, Social History.

Item #21566

Price: $95.00