Pierre Franey cookbooks are fairly mainstream in the world of used cookbooks. His books are sold mass-market as Franey was a popular French chef and known through his writings for the New York Times. I usually see a Pierre Franey book at least 2 of my 5 or 6 cookbook hunting days in the month. I have also come across several signed Franey cookbooks. The unsigned cookbooks are not heavily sought after--likely given that Franey's name doesn't come up on any of the cooking channels or talk shows and he has gone somewhat out of fashion--although he was one of the top French chefs of our time in the US.

In the past, a signed Franey book would have been valued higher. Today, Franey's books hardly sell in the used market, although a signed book will always sell to an avid collector. I've seen some listings for his signed books for over $150. That is definately out of range--try one-tenth of that price.

About Pierre Franey

Pierre Franey was born in Northern Burgandy in 1921. He wrote a well-known column for the New York Times called the 60-Minute Gourmet. Franey was the head chef at Le Pavillion, a New York City restaurant that pretty much defined French food in the US in the mid-40's. Franey was also VP of Howard Johnsons. He died in 1996 not long after giving a cooking demonstration aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). A signed Pierre Franey cookbook usually sells second hand for the value of a new Pierre Franey cookbook (see signed photo and values at bottom of post).

Cookbooks by Pierre Franey

* Pierre Franey Cooks with His Friends
* Cooking with the 60-Minute Gourmet
* Cuisine Rapide * Seafood Cookbook
* Pierre Franey's Cooking in America
* Pierre Franey's Cooking in France
* Pierre Franey's Kitchen
* More 60-Minute Gourmet
* Pierre Franey's Low Calorie Gourmet
* The Master Cooking Course: A Step-By-Step Illustrated Guide to the Preparation and Techniques of Four Gourmet Meals
* Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Signature

Average Price Used = $3 - $5
Average Price Used and Signed = $15

Signature Sample Pierre Franey Cooking in America