The Book of the Tea Pot and Some Tea-cup-times, with Pictures of Tea Pots of Many Periods and Places

64pp saddle-stitched booklet in colour illustrated printed card covers (slightly rubbed at edges with a few small marks). Internally neat, clean and tight, with a hint of paper aging at extreme margins. A fascinating exploration of the history of tea and tea-drinking, featuring numerous historic tea pots and notable tea drinkers such as William Hazlitt, Isaac Disraeli and Dr Johnson. Produced, as promotional literature, presumably, by R Twining, of Twining Tea, the oldest surviving tea merchant in the UK who founded its first shop on the Strand in London in 1706, which is still serving tea. The booklet records much of the history of the firm, including recalling the days, at the end of the 18th century, when Society dames and demoiselles flocked in their carriages 'to the famous tea-house on the Strand. A rare and magnificent survival from the late 19th century, and very hard to find.