Issue 186, Autumn 2019

In this Special ‘Food and Drink’ issue No 186
Amoret Tanner, Twelfth night celebrations: unravelling associated puzzles // Bodil Olson, Health in food labels in Britain, 1850-1970 // Michael Twyman, Brusson Jeune promoting gluten products // Alexander Everett, The message behind the menu // Notes & Queries // Mrs Pepys // Events // Digital Life

Welcome to this Special Autumn Issue No 186 of The Ephemerist, bringing together an eclectic group of articles on the theme of ephemera and Food and Drink. Cake-lovers everywhere will be fascinated by depictions of large, heavily iced and decorated confections, containing a bean or other token, and brought together in a collection of Twelfth Night celebration ephemera. A journey to Toulouse finds gluten promoted as a health benefit in the early twentieth century packaging for Brusson Jeune bread. This claim is put into context in the fascinating chart in the middle pages of this journal, summarising research into the history of packaging and health messages. And what better way to evoke the sense of the time and occasion than a wartime menu souvenir in ‘The message behind the menu’ ? Bon appetit ! The Editor