Cookbooks Worth Collecting: The History and Lore of Notable Cookbooks, with Complete Bibliographic Listings and Up-to-date Values
In this outstanding guide to the world of cookbooks for the avid collector, Barile presents an in-depth history of cookbooks from early Rome to modern America. She points out notable titles from each era and the social significance to be discovered in cookbooks. Barile also discusses the impact of modern-day appliances and convenience foods upon cookbooks. Stressing what is currently collectible and what might be in the future, she meticulously describes various categories of cookbooks: fundraising, historical, minority and ethnic, appliance, restaurant/hotel, and home canning and freezing. Barile does not ignore ephemera in her collecting strategy, stating that it is quite often overlooked and undervalued by dealers and collectors alike. Included in her text are a price guide, cookbook time line, conversion tables for old measurements, source list, and a directory of American cookbook libraries. An invaluable resource for culinary bibliophiles.- Michael A. Lutes, Univ. of Notre Dame Lib., Ind.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.