Bar Manual Appraisal

Hoffman House Bartender's Guide Book

This item is a compact, vintage-style book titled "Hoffman House Bartender's Guide." The book's cover is a deep, forest-green color, possibly cloth-bound or a durable paper stock, suggesting a practical and resilient design for frequent handling. The typography on the cover is in a lighter, likely gold or light green, sans-serif font, providing a clear contrast against the dark background. The title "HOFFMAN HOUSE..." appears at the top, followed by "BARTENDER'S GUIDE" in a larger, more prominent font. A decorative, stylized compass rose or star emblem is visible to the right of "GUIDE," adding a subtle touch of elegance. At the bottom, in smaller text, it states "PUBLISHED BY RICHARD K. FOX FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK," indicating the publisher and their location. The book appears to be in fair to good condition for its age, showing some signs of wear typical of an older used book, such as minor corner rounding and slight surface scuff marks, particularly along the edges and spine. There doesn't appear to be any significant damage like rips, tears, or major staining, suggesting it has been reasonably well-preserved. Its small size implies it was designed to be portable and easily consulted, likely fitting into a vest pocket or being kept behind a bar. Based on the publishing information and style, it likely dates from the early to mid-20th century, a period when such guides were popular. The binding appears to be a sewn or glued construction, holding the pages securely. The overall craftsmanship suggests a mass-produced but functional item, characteristic of practical reference books of the era.