Cookbook Collecting

Collecting cookbooks is not unique. It seems to be an addiction for many...though may not be the first type of collecting that comes to mind. We've all heard of figurine collectors or vintage advertising memorabilia. Cookbook collecting is more common than you'd guess. I know...I have run a used cookbook store online for years and started out as a collector with my wife.

The cookbook collector often specializes in a specific category or type of cookbook.When posed the question about what they collect, the cookbook collector will almost never just say "cookbooks." Usually they will respond with a specific type. My specialization for instance is "restaurant cookbooks." Below are some ideas to get you started...but before you start, some notes on condition, edition and other tips of note.

The Cookbook's Condition

This is something that may or may not impact the value of a book. I've seen the poorest condition of rare books sell for very high prices at auction. Condition is relative to your own benchmark of what type of book you want to display on your shelf (pristine, gently used, obviously cherished and used many times over...). Condition of course does influence how long a book may endure, as it also influences the cost of widely available cookbooks. For a rare book, condition may be irrelevant if there are only a few copies available on the market. A few terms to be aware of: "Dog Ears" are when the corners of the book have been folded and get creases. "Foxing" is when a book begins to get brown spots from age. If something mentions "Edges" those could refer to the edges of the pages as you see them when a book is closed.

Understanding about Cookbook Editions

First edition is usually more valuable if a popular book is revised several times over. For books that only ever come out as a first edition, this is obviously some what of a moot point. Be careful to note that there are differences between "printing" and "edition." For instance you may see a "First Printing" noted on a book. That may not mean it's a true first edition. It could very well be a newer edition but of a second or later edition. When you see someone note "stated first edition" this may also not be a true first edition, first printing. It merely means that "First Edition" is specifically noted on the title or copyright page. I've seen "Book Club Editions" that are First Editions but those are not sought after and tend to hold lower value than true Firsts. It all sounds confusing but you will learn as you begin to collect more often. Remember that edition is only as important as it is to the book's owner. You may find a Second or Third Edition or even Twenty-First Edition of a popular Betty Crocker book and still be happy to have a copy in your collection. It just depends on your intent of collecting...is it monetary? If so, learn about Editions.