8vo, (114 x 63 mm). 96 ff., 4 leaves bound out of order; 96 ff. Contemporary calf, spine restored at top, slightly worn, boards somewhat bowed. Generally very good, some light toning, occasional foxing, first quire with faint purple stains, not mold, early underlining to chapter on beer.

Both works enjoyed popularity in the 17th century, as evidenced by the several editions it went through: however, despite this fact, the works are rare in the market and seldom appear, and when they do, are mostly damaged or incomplete, understandable for the heavy used they were submitted to.

Sir Hugh Plat (1552–1608) Delightes for Ladies became one of the most popular books of domestic receipts in early modern England. First issued in 1600, the work went through numerous editions across the 17th century, reflecting the growing market for practical books aimed at gentlewomen and household management. The texts stand at the intersection of cookery, alchemy, medicine, and domestic science, offering a vivid window into elite household culture during the reign of Charles I. The Closet in particular was long associated with the opening section of Delights for Ladies, though bibliographers note that the two works are not identical.

Plat’s books are especially valued today for documenting the transmission of culinary and medicinal knowledge within the early modern home. Recipes range from syrups, fruit preserves and marmalades to restorative waters, scented oils, beauty treatments,and remedies “for sundry diseases,” illustrating how the seventeenth-century household functioned as both kitchen and laboratory.

Wing (2nd ed.); P2379A. Wing, C4727B.