Harry Mcelhone (7 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. 16mo, cloth, worn pictorial dust jacket, 102pp. Thumb-indexed in red & black. Eighth impression. NOLING, p. 269. A Very Good copy.

Fifth Edition. Small octavo, original red cloth, illustrated dustjacket, 5" by 3 1/2", 102 pages. Harry Mcelhone was a defining figure in early 20th-century bartending, most famous for his role at Harry's New York Bar (in Paris), which he bought in 1923. He worked at Ciro's Club in Deauville and the Plaza Hotel New York. He is often credited with inventing many cocktails, including the Sidecar, the Monkey Gland, the White Lady, and an early form of the French 75. This Fifth Edition is rather uncommon, no copies found on WorldCat. Near Fine but for cocking, in nearly Very Good dustjacket, printed price at top and lower spine has been blacked out, shallow edge chips.

Third Edition. Small octavo, original red cloth, illustrated dustjacket, 5" by 3 1/2", 109 pages. Mcelhone was a defining figure in early 20th-century bartending, most famous for his role at Harry's New York Bar (in Paris), which he bought in 1923. He worked at Ciro's Club in Deauville and the Plaza Hotel New York. He is often credited with inventing many cocktails, including the Bloody Mary, Sidecar, the Monkey Gland, the White Lady, and an early form of the French 75. The 1922 edition is credited with containing the first recipe for the Pegu Club Cocktail. An early printing, usually encountered in its ninth or tenth edition. Very Good, contemporary gift inscription at front endpaper, in Very Good dustjacket, bit of loss at lower spine end, some foxing to panels.

Fifth Edition. Small octavo, original red cloth, illustrated dustjacket, 5" by 3 1/2", 102 pages. This copy nicely signed and inscribed by Mcelhone at half-title page: 'Mr. SP I wanted to see a cellar once that would fit one of these books. I thought Bob L. + I would see it at your place this summer but no luck. Better next. Till then try these for exercise with the author's best (illegible initials but which must be Harry). Harry Mcelhone was a defining figure in early 20th-century bartending, most famous for his role at Harry's New York Bar (in Paris), which he bought in 1923. He worked at Ciro's Club in Deauville and the Plaza Hotel New York. He is often credited with inventing many cocktails, including the Sidecar, the Monkey Gland, the White Lady, and an early form of the French 75. This Fifth Edition is rather uncommon, no copies found on WorldCat. Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, nicked at edges and corners, small pieces of masking tape at corners of verso.

First Edition. Small octavo, original illustrated boards, 110 pages, illustrated. A very uncommon cocktail collection with only four library holdings found on WorldCat. Mcelhone was a defining figure in early 20th-century bartending, most famous for his role at Harry's New York Bar (in Paris), which he bought in 1923. He worked at Ciro's Club in Deauville and the Plaza Hotel New York. He is often credited with inventing many cocktails, including the Bloody Mary, Sidecar, the Monkey Gland, the White Lady, and an early form of the French 75. "Barflies and Cocktails conveys a whiskey-addled sense of zany humor that seems tied to the Roaring Twenties, when the book was first published. The running conceit of the book has to do with the fictional association of International Bar Flies, the rules of which include the admonition that, "Those seeing cerise cats with purple ears should keep it to themselves." [Peter Meehan. New York Times, 2008] This copy inscribed at title page "Best wishes / Harry". I can not locate another McElhone signature to compare this inscription to, but we have no reason to believe its not authentic. A Good copy, lacks last leaf (111/112) which is an ad for The Boulevardier and photo illustration of Harry's Bar, cracked at front hinge (likely repairable), some lower page corners a bit dog-eared.

Eighth Impression. Small octavo, original red cloth, illustrated dustjacket, 5" by 3 1/2", 102 pages. This copy nicely signed and inscribed by Mcelhone at half-title page and additionally signed and inscribed by Roy Barton at rear endpaper. Barton was an American composer and lyricist who co-wrote the Buzz Buzz Buzz song of the I. B. F. [International Bar Flies], the 'tongue in cheek' fraternity of Harry's New York Bar regulars and honorees (who had their own secret handshake and decorated their ties with a tie clip featuring two friendly looking, well dressed flies). In the I. B. F. handbook Barton is listed as one of four 'Dragon Flies' honorees. And in the Tenth edition of this title Roy Barton is credited for the recipe for the Zero Hour Cocktail. But more importantly is Barton's role in the lore of the invention of the Bloody Mary cocktail. According to many bloggers and journalists on the subject (and Fernand Petiot's obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle), the most likely genesis of the name Bloody Mary is that Roy Barton christened it thusly after being served a vodka and tomato juice drink by well known bartender at Harry's, Fernand Petiot, because it reminded him a of a Chicago club, the Bucket of Blood. A fascinating association copy and, one imagines, an incredible rarity. Harry Mcelhone was a defining figure in early 20th-century bartending, most famous for his role at Harry's New York Bar (in Paris), which he bought in 1923. He worked at Ciro's Club in Deauville and the Plaza Hotel New York. He is often credited with inventing many cocktails, including the Sidecar, the Monkey Gland, the White Lady, and an early form of the French 75. Five copies of the Eighth Impression listed on WorldCat. Very Good bright copy, frontis fore-edge bumped, in Good only dustjacket, lacking front flap, half inch by two inch wide chip at top front panel, chipped at spine ends, light stain to front panel.

Black and white photos, cartoons by Wynn (illustrator). First edition. An important and scarce cocktail mixing guide by one of the 20th century's most influential bartenders, Harry McElhone. Harry had tended bar at the Plaza in New York and Ciro's in London before opening his own place in Paris. "Harry's New-York Bar," as it was called, was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and other American ex-pats. Harry is often credited with inventing several cocktails including the Bloody Mary, the sidecar, and the boulevardier. Illustrated throughout with delightful drawings by Wynn Holcomb. Great period ads for liquor. There are also two black and white photos of scenes inside Harry's bar. There is an inscription dated Paris, Dec. 6 1927 on front free endpaper, along with two prior owner names. The last is dated Paris, July 1928. A nice copy of this historic mixing guide from 1920s Paris. OCLC locates just 3 copies. Professionally rebacked with plain cloth spine. Minor extremity wear to boards with a few old scattered stains. Binding sound. Hardcover. 6 1/4" high. [iv], 112 pages.