Accession Number

2023.003.018

Description

One book, the red leather spine with gilded embossed decoration consisting of images of fruit, game, poultry and seafood. The title is also gilded, and set within a rectangular dotted frame: “MEG DODS’ COOKERY”. The cover boards are covered in green cloth. The full title appears on the title page: “THE COOK AND HOUSEWIFE’S MANUAL: A PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF MODERN DOMESTIC COOKERY AND FAMILY MANAGEMENT; CONTAINING A COMPENDIUM OF FRENCH COOKERY, AND OF FASHIONABLE CONFECTIONARY, PRESPARATIONS FOR INVALIDS AND CONVALESCENTS, A SELECTION OF CHEAP DISHES, AND NUMEROUS USEFUL MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS IN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY.” On the first blank page at the front of the book is a pencil drawing of a profile of a woman and the words “Written Drawn by Minnie Dunlop” with the word “Written” scribbled over.

Narrative

Meg Dods’ Cookery was first published in Edinburgh in 1826. It was immensely popular, with 19 editions being published in the 19th Century. It is highly likely that Joan Olive Dunsmuir owned and used a copy of this cooking manual at Ardoon, Fairview, and Craigdarroch.

History of Use

This cookbook was used by the donor’s mother, Georgiana Holme-Sumner (Mrs. Robert Dunlop Stewart). She was a great granddaughter of Robert and Joan Olive Dunsmuir. She obtained it from her husband’s family who had used it in Scotland since the 1870s. She left it to her son, and he donated it to Craigdarroch in 2023. He had been using it at his home in Scotland. 

Date

1870

Dimensions

19.6 x 13.2 x 5.2 cm

Material

Paper; Leather; Metal, gold

Inscription

Written Drawn by Minnie Dunlop with the word “Written” scribbled over. 

Country of Origin

Scotland