1957 The Compleat Imbiber

Description

Colour Plates, First Edition, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding, With Dustwrapper

Present here are twelve volumes of Ray's entertaining anthology series. Published annually, these volumes feature a blend of essays, poems, stories, and illustrations by an eclectic mix of writers, all about the culture, history, and pleasures of drink, particularly wine and spirits. 

Ray, a journalist and wine critic, envisioned 'The Compleat Imbiber' as a modern equivalent of the 17th-century gentleman’s miscellany, drawing inspiration from Izaak Walton’s 'The Compleat Angler'.

Present here are:

The 1957 first edition, second impression of volume I. Illustrated by F. H. K. Henrion and Jane Mackay, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The 1958 first edition, first impression of volume II. Illustrated by F. H. K. Henrion and Jane Mackay, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The uncommon 1960 first edition, first impression of volume III. Illustrated by Brian Keogh, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The 1961 first edition, first impression of volume IV. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The 1963 first edition, first impression of volume VI. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The 1965 first edition, first impression of volume VIII. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The 1967 first edition, first impression of volume IX. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original clipped dust wrapper.

The 1969 first edition, first impression of volume X. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.

The 1970 first edition, first impression of volume XI. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original clipped dust wrapper.

The 1971 first edition, first impression of volume XII. Illustrated by Charles Hasler, and in the publisher's original clipped dust wrapper.

The 1986 first edition, first impression of 'The New Compleat Imbiber', effectively volume XIII. In the publisher's original clipped dust wrapper.

The 1989 first edition, first impression volume XIV. In the publisher's original clipped dust wrapper.

With essays and literary contributions from such figures as Iris Murdoch, Kingsley Amis, Laurie Lee, Diana Athill, J. B. Priestley, V. S. Pritchett and many others.