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How to Look Up the Value of Vintage Cookbooks

Vintage cookbooks are collectibles that appeal to people who enjoy the culinary arts as well as bibliophiles in general. The cookbook as we know it dates back to the mid-18th century and was "aimed at the inexperienced housewife and her servants." Today, the books offer a historical record of foods that were popular in different eras, as well as giving a glimpse into the life of women and their role in the home. By doing some research, anyone interested in collecting vintage cookbooks can build a library that holds real value.

Instructions

- 1
  Study price guides. Check at your local bookstore and library, or online at Amazon.com, to find cookbook collectors' guides that include prices. Examples of such books include "Cookbooks Worth Collecting," by Mary Barile, "Antique Trader Collectible Cookbooks Price Guide," by Patricia "Eddie" Edwards and Peter Peckham, "A Guide to Collecting Cookbooks: A History of People, Companies and Cooking," by Colonel Bob Allen, "Collector's Guide To Cookbooks: Identification & Values," by Frank Daniels and "Price Guide to Cookbooks and Recipe Leaflets," by Linda J. Dickinson.
- 2
  Check an Internet database specializing in vintage books. The Faded Giant Book Value Database lets you find the value of specific texts. Search using the title or author. You can also do general searches using a term such as "cookbook."
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  Look at the prices at Internet vintage/used bookstores. Exploring Web-based bookstores that specialize in cookbooks gives you the chance to see a wide selection of vintage cookbooks and their prices. Do a search for your specific title. If your title is not listed, look for similar subjects or books by the same author to get an idea of prices. The stores Vintage Cookbook, Old Cookbooks.com and CookBookery offer large online inventories.
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  See how much cookbooks sell for at auction. Searching the completed auctions on a site such as eBay can show you what price various titles in varying conditions are fetching on the open market. In order to see the final price for completed auctions, you must create an eBay account with a user name and login. This service is free.
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  Consult experienced cookbook collectors. Other cookbook collectors can offer advice on the collecting process and how to determine the value of certain titles. To find other collectors in your area, ask at your local bookstores and library, or go to a Web site such as Meetup that lets you find local people with similar interests. If you don't find a book collecting group on the site you can start one yourself.

Other Collecting