The Seagram Library collection contains a number of titles on the various trades involved in beverage alcohol production including works on cooperge and glass-making as well as on gauging and measurement.
The regulation of the distillation and beverage alcohol industry by the government dates from the 17th century. As production methods imported and as volume increased, the distilled spirits industry became an important source of revenue and thus subject to wide variety of legislation. The earliest examples in the collection date from the late seventeenth century. Shown here are more modern examples, as well, from commentaries urging changes to some of that legislation. Also shown are examples of self-regulation and codes to be followed.
"The Lycurgus Cup" by Baron Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild. Privately printed, 1954. This short essay, accompanied by eight photographic plates, describes the "so-called Lycurgus cup" which at one time had belonged to the Rothschild family. "No other cup or vessel with all the characteristics of the one illustrated here has been discovered. The six figures show a later version of the tragedy of Lycurgus, mythical King of the Edoni in Thrance...There is no documentary evidence to show where and when this cup was made, nor by whom it was found...it was probably made in the late fourth or fifth century." Baron Rothschild gave this book as a Christmas present and signed his initials.
"Tractatus De Vitis Cultura" Viennae, Typis Jos. Vinc. Degen. 1808. The several plates which have been reproduced from Tractatus De Vitis Cultura are among the finest in the Seagram Museum Library.
"Tractatus De Vitis Cultura" Viennae, Typis Jos. Vinc. Degen. 1808. The several plates which have been reproduced from Tractatus De Vitis Cultura are among the finest in the Seagram Museum Library.
"Valuable Secrets in Arts, Trades, &c Selected from the Best Authors and Adapted to the Situation of the United States." New York: By Evert Duyckink. 1816 Among the many "secrets" described in this book were several relating to the manufacture of glass.
"Valuable Secrets in Arts, Trades, &c Selected from the Best Authors and Adapted to the Situation of the United States." New York: By Evert Duyckink. 1816 Among the many "secrets" described in this book were several relating to the manufacture of glass.
"Penus Juris Civilis" by Etienne Forcadel. Lyon, 1550. This work, the earliest imprint in the Seagram Museum Collection, was written by Etienne Forcadel, a poet, lawyer, and oenophil, who was a champion of the "Appellation Controllees." In this book he deals with the legal right of different wines to certain popular names.
An Act for Limiting and Setling the Prices for Wines (1659). This is the earliest example of government regulation of the distillation industry in the Seagram collection.
The Distiller of London. The Distiller of London was published in 1668 and sets down the rules and regulations which distillers in the seventeenth century agreed to follow.
Die Bottgenkunst Von Hrn. Fougeroux Von Bandaroy. The illustrations shown here depict the various stages and tools of barrel-making and cooperage from the 18th century.
Die Bottgenkunst Von Hrn. Fougeroux Von Bandaroy. The illustrations shown here depict the various stages and tools of barrel-making and cooperage from the 18th century.
"Instruction for Surveyors of the Distillery and Brandy." London, 1754. The instructions given to those hired to oversee the operation of the distillation industry were very detailed. Included in these direction were the following: You are everyday to visit the distilling house of every common distiller, vinegar and mead-Maker, and also every maker of cyder and sweets... And on order to keep the Officers to their duty, and to detect fraudulent workers, you are frequently to make check-surveys before 7 in the morning and after 7 or 8 at night. Probably for convenience of use, the companion set of instructions for officers of the London distillery were bound in a dos-a-dos binding as seen here. A dos-a-dos binding is a technique used in which two books, usually small of a complementary nature are bound back to back so that they open in opposite directions, one of the three boards being the common lower board of both volumes.
"Instruction for Surveyors of the Distillery and Brandy." London, 1754. The instructions given to those hired to oversee the operation of the distillation industry were very detailed. Included in these direction were the following: You are everyday to visit the distilling house of every common distiller, vinegar and mead-Maker, and also every maker of cyder and sweets... And on order to keep the Officers to their duty, and to detect fraudulent workers, you are frequently to make check-surveys before 7 in the morning and after 7 or 8 at night. Probably for convenience of use, the companion set of instructions for officers of the London distillery were bound in a dos-a-dos binding as seen here. A dos-a-dos binding is a technique used in which two books, usually small of a complementary nature are bound back to back so that they open in opposite directions, one of the three boards being the common lower board of both volumes.
"Instruction for Surveyors of the Distillery and Brandy." London, 1754. The instructions given to those hired to oversee the operation of the distillation industry were very detailed. Included in these direction were the following: You are everyday to visit the distilling house of every common distiller, vinegar and mead-Maker, and also every maker of cyder and sweets... And on order to keep the Officers to their duty, and to detect fraudulent workers, you are frequently to make check-surveys before 7 in the morning and after 7 or 8 at night. Probably for convenience of use, the companion set of instructions for officers of the London distillery were bound in a dos-a-dos binding as seen here. A dos-a-dos binding is a technique used in which two books, usually small of a complementary nature are bound back to back so that they open in opposite directions, one of the three boards being the common lower board of both volumes.
