Boston: The Stratford Company, 1935
First Edition. Presentation copy, inscribed on the title page: “To Ben Towsley / a friend of many years’ standing / G. Selmer Fougner.” A very good or better copy, only with some toning to the spine. A little smudge to the fore edge of the outer text block, as well as mild foxing to the pastedowns, and some scuffing to the rear pastedown and rear endpaper. The contents otherwise flawless. A pioneering book in its genre, among the first significant post-Prohibition American guides to wines and spirits. Fougner began writing “Along the Wine Trail” as a daily column for the Sun immediately following the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933. It was assembled as a three volume pamphlet the following year, and finally into book form here. Scarce, and very rare inscribed. Laid in is a folded menu from a dinner served at the historic Williamsburg Inn, dated February 17, 1937, apparently in advance of the Inn’s official opening in April of that year.