THE PLAIN MAN'S GUIDE TO WINE

1961. From the front matter—

TO HIS FRIENDS, AND, AS HE MAY NOW SAY,
    HIS COLLEAGUES OF THE JURADE OF ST.
     EMILION THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY
                            DEDICATED
  BY THE AUTHOR, RAYMOND POSTGATE,
       CHANCELIER D'AMBASSADE POUR
                LA GRANDE BRETAGNE

That's the only illustration. Even so, I'm always fascinated by such period books that present fine dining and wining as topics of potential interest to anyone, not an elite. Though it's also depressing to see the degree of literacy exhibited, from the vantage point of a time when even basic literacy is not evident in most spheres.

Following his dedication, Postgate cites a poem in Latin, by Canon Walter Map. This translation follows—

It is my proposed aim to die in an inn; let wine be placed to the lips of the dying man, so that, when they come. The chorus of angels may say: 'God be kind to this drinker.'

The translation is presumably Postgate's own, though he adds this exegesis—

The translation does not do justice to the Latin of this agreeable poem. Propostium, for example, has an intentionally formal character: 'this is the proposition,' it says, as if the matter were put before a meeting and the Canon were looking round for a seconder.... Observe, too, how, being a Prebendary of St. Paul's as well as a Canon, the author writes chori, choruses; for you or me, perhaps, one brisk cherub will suffice, but as an escort to heaven he knows he is entitled to at least two ranks of angels. He was chaplain to Henry II and aware of his importance. He unwisely added other verses to these; they are of no importance.

Dated it may be, and getting to the punch lines takes a little reading on. Still, I can't help but enjoy an occasional serving of this style.

These are the contents of chapter 1—

THE ELEMENTS

Simplicity of wine-drinking — Falsehoods of the Wine Snob — 'Drink what you like' — Smoking — List of chief varieties of wine — Apéritifs, table wines, dessert wines — Temperature of wine, shaking of wine, wine with food — The vintages that matter — Glasses — How to taste wine — The minimum of knowledge on a postcard.

The "post card" is closest the book comes to having a second illustration.