War Time Recipes for use in the West Indies. Compiled by Mrs. St. J. Hodson. All profits for war funds

[Bridgetown, Barbados: publisher not identified; Advocate Co. Ltd, 1942. Octavo (23.5 x 15.5 cm.), 64, [2], [4] pages. Index. Advertisements. Printed in blue ink throughout. Illustrated cover by "R. Hughes, Oct 1942." Illustrations to each section header. Date of publication from cover illustration. FIRST EDITION. A rare wartime cookbook from Barbados, with dishes much more "local" than what is often found in these books. The recipes are often attributed, and many are decidedly Caribbean, for example Callalu Soup, Soused Flying Fish, Ground Nut Soup, Caveached Fish, Fried Shark, Turtle Fin, Cassava Biscuits, and much more. The audience is clearly either (truncated) tourists - as the advertisers include hotels and restaurants and clubs (Seaview Guest House, Aquatic Club & Cinema, the Marine Hotel) - or recent arrivals from the states - as other ads include housewares and appliance shops (The Ideal Store, Electric Sales & Service Ltd.). Other ads include of course numerous rum distilleries, local air service, and a full-page ad for Steele-Briggs Vegetable Seed, encouraging war time kitchen gardening. The ads sometimes give us an indication of conditions on the island during wartime, including hotels touting "no blackouts". Internally clean, bright, and sound. Pale green paper-covered boards, printed in orange and black, over mustard-color cloth. The illustrated boards, with an illustration depicting a caricature of a local woman cooking (and on the rear a rum advertisement) are scuffed and soiled. Very good. [OCLC locates seven copies]. (Inventory #: 9426)