Joel's Blog

The 1824 Universal Receipt Book is Here!!!

10/26/2009

We just got our first copies of Stephen Shepherd's reprint of the 1824 Universal Receipt Book. The book itself is a huge compendium of recipes, advice, factoids, & etc that was used as a guidebook for people, especially ones living in rural areas or on the frontier.

Need to get rid of maggots in some sheep - look in the book.
Need to make crayons - look in the book.
Need to mix up some paint or varnish - look in the book.
Need to set a broken leg - look in the book.
Need to set up a school - look in the book.
Need to make some perfume to impress the school marm - look in the book.
Need to cook that sheep - look in the book.
Need to tan that sheepskin - look in the book.
& etc.

Very few of the recipes and instructions in the book deal directly with woodworking - although the sections on varnishing, painting, and other finishing operations is very important from a historical point of view. Overall however I happen to love looking through books like this - you can learn all sorts of things - and it's firmly in the do-it-yourself tradition - so it's a nice addendum to woodworking instruction even if it's not directly connected.

Update: Sadly the book is now (2018)out of print

PS - My book, The Joiner and Cabinetmaker - which is from just a little later - 1839 - is due in from the printer this Friday.

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