Cookbook Collecting and Reviews

A Cookbook Village blog written for cookbook collectors and curious cooks. Find out all about collecting cookbooks: used and vintage; reviews and values; recipes and best books to buy for investment.


COOKBOOK COLLECTING



RECIPES



TOP CHEF SIGNATURES



COOKBOOK COLLECTIBILITY REVIEWS



COOKBOOK CHECKLISTS



Welcome to the Cookbook Collecting Blog

Posted by cookbookvillage. Filed under: Cookbook Collecting

Introduction to Cookbook Collecting and Reviews blog for cookbook collectors, those who want to get started with collecting cookbooks or for enthusiasts. How did I get started? My wife collected cookbooks for many years. I have literally been in an out of used book stores, antique stores, flear markets, garage sales, estate sales, etc. all across California. Originally it was just my wife who had this great love of cookbooks. She hardly even cooks--but those cookbooks are her treasures.

Anyway...I got hooked too. Mostly I love the thrill of collecting, coming across that hard-to-find cookbook that makes your heart pound.

So, at a certain point, my wife's collecting became out of control--she would literally sweep a store shelf clear in minutes. The bookstore owners started saving books in her name and waiting for her to come by for her weekly visit. Our shelves piled up to where I had to install a room full of sturdy bookcases to accommodate her collection. Boxes were piled around the room and loose cookbooks--even some duplicates--were on the floor and desks. She had no inventory system so I started to put them in order by alphabet--some letters taking up several shelves alone. Then, a few months before my business started, after our office reached capacity and the garage was full as well, my wife announced that I should start selling her collection online. I had been eager to start an online store and the cookbooks were the perfect way to start. And my wife is happy as she can still collect vicariously by hunting for great finds for the store. So began Cookbook Village, an eBay store for used cookbooks.

I've started this blog to share our knowledge of cookbook collecting. I will be covering a variety of cookbooks, rating collectibility, values, and more. My wife and I know some fellow collectors and hope to share their stories and knowledge of collecting as well.

Comments

Hi Annie – Thank you for posting about your collection. We’d love to interview you for our collectors series. Please write us if interested. There is a contact form on our Contact Us page. Each collector is different. We used to alphabetize ours and catalog it in a database (before we started selling). Some people break them up by time period, others by category (community, signed, etc. See our article on Cookbook Specialization as well as the three interviews from our Spotlight on Cookbook Collectors series (under the Cookbook Collecting dropdown box on the left column menu of this page. They may give you some ideas too. I am considering an article on this topic.
- Wendy

Posted by Cookbook Village on May 10, 2012

I have collected cookbooks for about 15 years and just love my books. I have 6 steel and wood shelves about 6 feet long each. Two sides of the shelves can be use. I really need any suggestions in organizing and cataloging them.

Posted by Annie Anderson on May 09, 2012

Hi Brenda,Great to see another cookbook collecting writer on the blog. I will check out your article on finding good cookbooks. Please feel free to post anytime! Ruben

Posted by Ruben on September 22, 2008

Thanks, Ruben, I will be back — I think you are doing a fantastic job here!Today, my Google alert led me to your discussion of Pei Mei’s Chinese Cook Book. There is something to learn hear every day!Brenda

Posted by Treasures By Brenda on September 29, 2008

Hi, your true-life story is funny and only too true! Cookbook collectors are everywhere and their collections take over shelves, and tables and corners…I, too, sell cookbooks but on a small scale in eBay at my store, Treasures By Brenda plus I have written a page on Squidoo dedicated to collecting cookbooks. It gives a great list of things to consider when you are trying to choose a cookbook. You can read it at Recipe For Finding Good Cookbooks.Good luck with your blog and your sales! I will enjoy looking at some of the links you have provided about cookbooks.Brenda

Posted by Treasures By Brenda on September 22, 2008

Post a comment

Note: comments are moderated before appearing here.

« Previous: Charosis Recipe | Back to Cookbook Collecting and Reviews articles

Secure Online Ordering

© 2012 Cookbook Village. All Rights Reserved. All prices USD.