Vintage Recipe Pamphlets – Collectible
Cookbook Collecting
Yesterday was a perfectly beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest. Unable to sit still at home, my partner and I decided to make a short, 30-mile trek to the town of Centralia, WA. Centralia is a nice little town with a large antique mall and a ton of smaller antique stores.
Antique Stores
After a wonderful lunch at the Berry Fields Restaurant, located inside the antique mall, we agreed that it was time to re-visit a small antique store that we’d discovered by chance several years earlier. Happily we found that the owner was having a 25% off sale.
Point 1: You never know when a store-owner might be facing a financially difficult time and is willing to give you a super-good deal.
Vintage Recipe Brochures
Without any negotiation, the owner gave me the price of $12.00 for the following six recipe pamphlets:
The Complete Jello Recipe Book – 1929
I had never seen this Jello recipe brochure before…it wasn’t pictured in any of my 8 or 10 price cookbook price guides. In one of my more obscure (and older) guides I found a reference to the brochure. It was valued at $15.00…in 1990! Estimated price today is $35.00.
Jello – 1929
Point 2: Even if an item isn’t in perfect condition, the value is often predicated more on the availability (or rarity) of an item. I was thrilled to add this to my collection.
New Jello Recipes made with Lime flavor
I had never seen this Jello recipe brochure before either…it wasn’t pictured in any of my 8 or 10 cookbook price guides. In one of my more obscure (and older) guides I found a reference to the brochure. It was valued at $14.00…in 1990! Estimated price today is $25-$30.
Jello – 1930
Watkins Cook Book – 1926
Once again, the same story. I had never seen this recipe pamphlet before. Published in 1926, it’s a neat 4.5” x 6”, 64-page recipe brochure containing some very nice colored graphics inside. An obscure price from 1997 listed the item at $20; despite its less-than-perfect condition, its rarity places its value at $35.
Watkins – 1926
Main Entrees to make with Canned Salmon – 1937
This recipe brochure is in excellent condition. Published by the Canned Salmon Industry of Seattle in 1937, it is very nicely done and contains some really nice graphics. There is little likelihood that you’d ever find a reference to a recipe brochure from the Canned Salmon Industry. But because of its age, its excellent condition and nice graphics, I value it at $8-$10. It measures 6” x 8.75”.
Canned Salmon Industry – 1937
Mazola Corn Oil Mexican Cookbook – 1984
It recently occurred that I often turned my nose up at ‘newer’ recipe brochures and focused primarily on ‘vintage’ recipe brochures. Then just yesterday, as I looked at this brochure, I realized that a brochure dated 1984 is 25-years old! Many folks would consider recipe brochures of this date to be vintage. So as of today, I’ll start referring to the early 1980’s as vintage. (God help an old man like me).
Point 3: In my opinion, it’s okay to refer to something 25-years old as vintage. Jeez, I’m way, way past ‘vintage’.
This “vintage” brochure measures 5.25” x 8.5” and contains 31 pages. It also contains some very colorful graphics. Estimated value $4-$6.
Mazola Oil – 1984
Pillsbury Butter Cookie Cookbook – 1956
I bought this recipe pamphlet primarily because I love cookies. Secondarily I bought it because its older, in excellent shape, and very collectible.
Point 4: Remember that values of anything are subjective and predicated upon whether you can find a buyer for your item at its estimated value. Just because I say that estimated value is $25, for example, it doesn’t mean that someone will be willing to pay that amount. Sometimes we get lucky however, and find a buyer that especially needs, or wants a particular item and is willing to pay more. This is when life becomes good!
This is neat brochure measuring 5” x 8” and containing 49 pages and 50 recipes. It has nice graphics, both white and black and colored. A 1990 price guide estimated the value of this recipe brochure at $8. I estimate it at $18.
Pillsbury – 1956
Point 5: Keep on your toes and your eyes open…you never know when, or where, you’re going to find some real treasures.
So, there you go folks. For $12 – I was able to add as much as $135 worth of recipe brochures to my collection. Until next time, hope you enjoyed the journey, Tim
Tags: Antique Mall, antique store, Antique Stores, Beautiful Day, Centralia Wa, Colored Graphics, cook book, cookbook, Jell-O, Jello Recipe, Jello Recipes, Mazola Corn Oil, Mile Trek, Pacific Northwest, Pamphlets, Pillsbury flour, Price Guides, Rarity, Recipe Book, recipe brochure, recipe pamphlet, Store Owner, Vintage Recipe, Watkins
