INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE BAKING OF SPOILED WHEAT. - Lot 168

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INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE BAKING OF SPOILED WHEAT. - Lot 168
INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE BAKING OF SPOILED WHEAT. Paris, Royal Printing Office, February 1817. In-8, 31 pages, paperback with a printed temporary cover, as published. First edition of this important official instruction published in the wake of the disastrous harvest of 1816—the famous “year without a summer”—caused by the climatic effects of the eruption of Mount Tambora (1815), which brought incessant rains, poor harvests, and food shortages throughout Europe. The work was drafted by a special commission established by the Minister of the Interior and composed of several of France’s most eminent scholars and administrators: Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac; Louis-Jacques Thénard; André Thouin (no, not listed here); rather, Bosc, Yvart, and Silvestre; Alexandre Brongniart was not among them; Morel de Vindé, Peer of France; De Saint-Martin; Gau, chairman of the commission; Silvestre, secretary. The treatise methodically outlines the processes for saving crops severely damaged by moisture. The authors recommend, in particular: the artificial drying of grains using specially equipped drying chambers or ovens; techniques for ventilating and storing grains; methods to prevent fermentation and mold growth; milling processes adapted to sprouted grains; best practices for bread-making to produce edible bread despite the deterioration of the wheat. The book draws on the experiences of Duhamel du Monceau, Parmentier, Béguilet, César Bucquet, and other agronomists, whose work is extensively cited. The conclusion states that by following these procedures, it remains possible to produce: “excellent household bread” even with severely degraded grains. This text is one of the first French scientific reports devoted to food preservation and the security of national food supplies. Historical Context The year 1816, known as “the year without a summer,” was marked by exceptional climatic anomalies. The continuous rains in July, August, and September—mentioned in the very first lines of this instruction—caused massive damage to the grain harvests. The ensuing food crisis led the government of the Restoration to call upon the best specialists to limit losses and prevent famine. This publication thus serves as a major record of French agricultural policy in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and constitutes a fundamental document in the history of agronomy, food technology, and state intervention in food security. Physical Description In-8. 31 pages. Original printed temporary cover. Royal Printing Office. February 1817. Complete pagination. Typographic signatures preserved. Condition Copy in modest condition but complete. Original temporary cover preserved, showing soiling, foxing, light stains, small marginal losses, and wear on the top and bottom edges and corners. Some foxing and old moisture stains in the text block, without affecting legibility. Interior is generally fresh. Original stitching preserved. Bibliographic Significance A rare official publication, distributed primarily to government agencies, prefects, agronomists, and local authorities. It is one of the earliest practical treatises devoted to the industrial processing of spoiled grains and remains an essential document for the history of European food crises in the early 19th century, directly linked to the consequences of the Tambora eruption and the great agricultural crisis of 1816–1817. Its significance extends far beyond the field of agronomy to encompass economic, public health, and climate history.
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