Handwritten book of the 18th ct. on the history of old Polish cooking “Zbiór dla kuchmistrza tak potraw jako ciast robienia” from the fonds of the Institute of Manuscript of V. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine.

Abstract

In the paper we review a handwritten book from the fonds of the Institute of Manuscript of V. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, unknown to the historians, which contains a set of the 18th ct. old Polish cooking receipts. Covered are codicological and historical-political aspects of the manuscript study. Ownership notes and exlibris analysis enabled us to attribute the manuscript previous owners and to trace its history in the 18–19th centuries. In the article we also analyze the structure and contents of the cooking receipts contained in the book, as well as the useful advice on housekeeping, gardening, horticulture etc. Researched are the book sources dating back to the 17–18th centuries, author’s receipts and their origin. Cooking traditions and novations are presented in the light of the 18th ct. Rzeczpospolita Baroque culture.