This recipe comes from an old newspaper clipping, unfortunately un-dated and untitled, found inside a second-hand copy of "Household Cookery Recipes" by MA Rotheram, published in 1908.  From the reverse side of the cutting which shows part of a photo of French grape pickers in classic berets and blue overalls, we guess the date to be somewhere in the 40's or 50's.  It's fairly clear that the cutting is from an American newspaper, since the partner recipe on the same cutting is for Walnut Brownies.  "Cookies" and "Brownies" did not become part of the UK's general cookery vocabulary until the 70's or 80's.