Done right, vintage shopping can feel fun and frivolous — throwing on frocks or even impulse-buying classic crockery. However, there’s one thing you might struggle to get your hands on: vintage cookbooks. If you’re wondering why anyone would want one — there are a dozen reasons why you shouldn’t discredit old cookbooks. These recipes tend to use basic staples, perfect for breathing life into a kitchen on an empty fridge day. The historical element can be exciting, too. From following italicized scribbles from previous owners to taking blind faith in their directions (it’s all very “Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince”). With that in mind, the main reason shopping for vintage cookbooks has become so ferociously competitive has to do with the fact that cookbook collecting has shifted online.
There’s no competing with fast-clicking collectors on the internet. Whereas once, you could swoop into countless vintage or charity stores to swipe up some of the best-selling cookbooks of all time for a steal of a price, now collecting has become significantly harder. Prices are amped up as high as $7,500 on some listings, and when unknowing sellers do list items at more reasonable rates, eagle-eyed buyers snap them up quickly. Collectors are also battling over limited copies, too, so the odds are definitely stacked against someone wanting to collect vintage cookbooks.
Finding the best types of vintage cookbooks
Any collector worth their salt knows that not every item is equal. Let’s face it, not all cookbooks were an iconic influence on 20th Century cooking. So, when sifting through hardbacks, spiral-bounds, pamphlets, and dog-eared paperbacks, it’s important not to fall down the aesthetics rabbit hole. While cookbooks can make for thought-provoking interior design elements, their specific topic is what is of utmost importance — not just for the reader but for investors as well. Understanding cookbook categories can help you know when to snap up a deal and when to leave it on the table (or in your online shopping cart).
In general, celebrity or character-based collections — think Julia Childs and Betty Crocker — hold value particularly well. Bonus points for first editions and items kept in good or excellent condition. Other categories, like foraging guides or recipes for specific dish types, can also make for useful and nostalgic household additions. Don’t forget vintage cocktail recipes in cookbooks, too. While cookbook collecting is now chronically online, it’s still worth scoping out your favorite stores (either in person or online). Vintage cookbooks can transport you to the world of electric blender meals or even teach you the basics of foraging for asparagus — it’s an eclectic shopping experience, to say the least — and absolutely worth it for vintage lovers.
