J. Rey - Guide du Maître d'Hôtel et du Restaurateur - 1908-1908

Guide for the Maître d'Hôtel and the Restaurateur written by J. Rey and published in London by Carmona & Baker, eighth edition, revised and enlarged, of 1920.

The text and the printing blocks are fully intact and clearly legible. An obvious yellowing of the pages entirely consistent with the commercial-type paper produced around 1920. No serious water stains or corrosive acid burns, but the antique paper still requires careful handling to avoid tears along the margins. The pages show decent rigidity at the level of the central spine, although the outer margins are slightly worn by time.

A unique feature is the stamp on a right-hand page in blue ink, partially faded. This kind of ownership marking or stamps from old libraries/hotels due to ownership changes carries an inscription linked to a French merchant or institution, adds historical charm, and is evidence of the piece's authenticity. Overall the book presents good quality for a century-old reference text, preserving the historical value of the commercial reviews and the opinions of hotel managers of the era (such as the Imperial Restaurant or the Savoy in London cited in the pages).