This monumental collection contains over 350 royalty-free illustrations of every conceivable activity concerned with the preparation and consumption of food and drink. Jim Harter, well-known commercial designer and collagist, has selected the most versatile and eye-catching material, mainly from rare nineteenth-century sources. These fine line drawings, reproduced sharply and clearly, comprise the most extensive and economical source of design material available.
From the dining car of the Orient Express to the kitchen of an average family breakfasting at home, exotic and ordinary dining is shown in countries all over the world. There are rajahs dining in their palaces, cavemen squatting and eating with their hands, Romans feasting, wealthy families dining in elegant restaurants, public kitchens, servants, children eating, court scenes, Christmas dinners, dinner parties, individuals dining, banquets and cooks preparing meals, camping, and shopping.
Not only are there activity scenes but also dozens of individual illustrations depict food, servers, and cooking utensils. A sampling includes: Exotic cakes and desserts, fish, melons, oranges, berries, grapes, artichokes, rhubarb, leeks, pumpkins, pigs, and turkeys Glassware, tea sets, decanters, mugs, pitchers, baskets, bowls, urns, flatware, candlesticks, servers, ladles, and rolling pins The wide scope of the book includes large illustrations as well as headings and vignettes suitable for wine lists, menus, cartes du jour, invitations, and many other uses. These royalty-free illustrations form a unique sourcebook—virtually impossible to duplicate—that can complement practically any point of reference on the subject of food and drink. Clearly reproduced from rare periodicals on high-quality stock, these pictures offer a limitless array of ideas for artists and designers of greeting cards, packaging, periodicals, and cookbooks, as well as collagists and decoupeurs.
Dover (1979) original publication.

Jim Harter is a successful artist and editor of several Dover Pictura CD-ROM Books, including Harter's Picture Archive for Collage and Illustration, Landscapes and Cityscapes for Artists and Craftspeople, Nautical Illustrations, and more.