Vintage tales: An anthology of wine and other Intoxications By Cyril Ray
Vintage Tales: An Anthology of Wine and Other Intoxications By Cyril Ray (Collectible First Edition Copy)
A Delightful, Cultivated Literary Compendium of Historical Essays, Anecdotes, and Celebrations of the Grape
A Delightful, Cultivated Literary Compendium of Historical Essays, Anecdotes, and Celebrations of the Grape
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Vintage Tales: An Anthology of Wine and Other Intoxications
- Author / Editor: Cyril Ray
- Publisher: Century Publishing Co Ltd, London
- Publication Date: 1984
- ISBN-10: 0712602550
- ISBN-13: 9780712602556
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing (Collectible Wine Literature Release)
- Binding: Original publisher's premium hardcover cloth boards, complete with the original illustrated dust jacket, now beautifully preserved and stabilized inside a clear Cellophane archival sleeve.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 224 pages. Structurally organized as a curated treasury of literary vignettes, vintage historical letters, classical poetry, and witty gastronomic anecdotes.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good Plus to Near Mint (VG+/NM)
- Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's cloth casing remains in spectacular, flat, and sharp-cornered condition. The spine text is perfectly crisp, bright, and completely undamaged at the head and tail bands, leaving the spine looking perfect.
- Interior: The inner hinges and binding are pristine and tight. Internal pages are completely clean, crisp, white, and intact. Free from standard consumer ink inscriptions, wine stains, or dealer pencil annotations.
- Preservation: This volume has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. It is now protected with a clear Cellophane cover to shield the binding from future edge wear.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Condition: Present, complete, and unclipped. Displays only some very slight, microscopic signs of storage shelf friction along the corners and upper margins. Beautifully consolidated, bright, and seamlessly displayed beneath the archival Cellophane cover.
Synopsis & Literary Value
Published in 1984 by Century Publishing, Vintage Tales: An Anthology of Wine and Other Intoxications is a book to smack one's lips over. Curated by the celebrated stylist and wine writer Cyril Ray, this sophisticated compendium brings together centuries of the finest, wittiest, and most evocative prose dedicated to the sensory pleasures of wine and alternative spirits.
Moving away from technical chemistry or dry price catalogs, Ray gathers historical musings, traveler diaries, drawing-room comedies, and classical poetry that capture the true essence of conviviality and indulgence. It bridges the gap between literary art and gastronomic science, providing hours of sheer pleasure for anyone with more than a passing interest in wine culture. It stands as a necessary cornerstone volume for collectors of vintage viticultural prose, belletristic essay collections, and fine culinary libraries.
Author Profile: Cyril Ray
Cyril Ray (1908–1991) was one of the 20th century's most distinguished British journalists, foreign correspondents, and prose stylists, who later became universally renowned as a premier authority on wine and food literature. Educated at Jesus College, Oxford, he served as a daring war correspondent for the Manchester Guardian before founding the wine section of The Spectator. A founding member of the Circle of Wine Writers and author of legendary estate histories (including definitive works on Château Lafite-Rothschild and Bollinger), Ray was celebrated for his elegant wit, flawless prose structure, and his belief that wine should be treated as an art form rather than a snobbish industry.
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