Collecting Cookbooks

Many of the people that read this column are likely interested in collecting cookbooks--either you already have an extensive collection, or you occasionally think about starting one. But one question frequently nags at the novice and experienced alike--how do you know what a book is worth?

As is often the case with such questions, the answer is information. The more information you are able to obtain about specific books and/or genres (Southern Cookery, New England Cookery, Campbell Soup Cookbooks, etc.) , the better you will be able to determine what the book in your collection is worth, or how much that longed-for prize will cost you to buy.

Enter Colonel Bob. This 1990 book, updated 1995, is a lovely and concise look at desirable older cookbooks and their worth. Filled with photographs of book covers, historical information (the essay on Baker's Chocolate is intriguing), this is a wonderfully handy reference source.

How accurate are the prices after six years? I checked five of the books listed against prices available at bibliofind.com. Across the board, fairly accurate.

A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband: With Bettina's Best Recipes (Louise Bennet Weaver) 1917, 1932 The book lists the original as going for around $75.00, with reprints in the neighborhood of $25.00. Bibliofind had two reprints (one from 1917, one from 1932), at $32.50 and $35.00, respectively.

Mrs.Lincoln's Boston Cook Book (Mrs. DA Lincoln). Colonel Bob quotes $65, Bibliofind had copies in a wide range of prices--from $10 to $800.

Kellogg's The Sunny Side of Life Book (1934). The book quotes at $12.00, Bibliofind at $7.50.

Famous Recipes for Baker's Chocolate and Breakfast Cocoa (1928) Colonel Bob states $14.00, and Biblofind has a copy at $17.25

As with any collectible, prices fluctuate with demand, which accounts for some of the prices differences. Overall, a good book to give you an idea of the size of the ballpark.

For more information on collecting cookbooks: The Cookbook Collector's Exchange: http://www.concentric.net/~1tarkus/ccex....

Cookbook Collecting: http://cookbookcollectingcom.readyhostin...

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