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Hello All, I am new to this website and so far I am absolutely loving it. I thought I had a large collection of cookbooks until I started looking at the size of other members collections. Very impressive to say the least. I have a few questions I've pondered myself and I would like to know what the readers of this Forum think. I will start with a little information first. I did notice and read the forum topic on whether you prefer to buy books from a local cookbook dealer or online. This was a very good topic that I enjoyed reading and I myself do buy cookbooks online and usually used. If I really like the book I will buy it new, add it to my cookbook snob library and then put the used one in my kitchen for use. Since I do buy most of my cookbooks used, I have noticed that some used books hold their value while other dramatically drop in price to the point where you can get them for under $10. Another thing I've noticed is some countries, other than the US where I'm located, they may have cookbooks significantly less than the US price. The cookbooks conditions I buy are always "Good" or better. My first question is, in your opinion, how are cookbook prices evaluated and determined in the used world? For example, a Thomas Keller book, new, may be selling for $75, but a used one can be anywhere from $15-25. Other cookbooks that aren't popular may still have a high price and even after researching the book and author it seems they aren't really that popular. I love my cookbook collection and I gladly pay for the ones I want. By no means am I questioning pricing or complaining, I'm simply interested in how they are evaluated and priced. I've never been able to find any concrete information on this so I would love to hear your opinions. Thanks

My understanding of the used book prices are that it is supply and demand - as in if there is scarcity of used copies for sale and a lot of people would like that book then the price is higher but when there are a lot available through used booksellers then the price is low in order to sell them. The booksellers are able to see comparable prices for books they list on Amazon or Abe Books so they know what pricing level will work for that book. I don't personally buy or sell cookbooks based on their value so I'm not an expert but that is my understanding of how books are priced. 

That seems like a reasonable explanation. I suppose they do have ways of looking at supply and demand, never really thought about that. I do have a collection of rare, hard to find cookbooks, which tend to be very old. I like that they do seem to have value, but value isn't the driving factor. Three of them are from my grandmother and they just happen to have value. Not a lot, but a little. I value the content and some of my most priced cookbooks aren't even published. In my region, churches and social groups put out some great mini yearly cookbooks!! LOL

Rare, scarce or old isn't going to dictate the value/price - it's whether other people want to buy them or not.

I was surprised by 1961 JULIA CHILD”MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING”BOOK  going for $999 on ebay with 14 watchers.  And 1950 edition of Better Homes and Gardens for $1000 with 14 watchers.  I suppose some of those watchers are those with books interested in selling at some point. 

I agree with chefDdub, old cookbooks need more love and attention......I thoroughly enjoy picking up an old cookbook and browsing through it, finding lots of handwritten recipes, newspaper and magazine clippings, and ledger notes. What a treasure.

I have a number of old cookbooks, including the Boston Cooking School Cook Book, and the The Victory Binding of the American Woman's Cook Book, out of the 30's and 40's. I have a "vegen" cookbook called Diet and Cook Book, by Dr. Harry Finkel, published in 1925.

I actually like perusing through the old cookbooks now and again to find "whats-old-is-new-again" recipes. I still think there's a place for lard.......

Old cooksbooks are cool!

Originally Posted by: JimCampbell

Old cooksbooks are cool!

Me too. My treasures  are older community and  group cookbooks. Engaging and interesting stories of places  and groups.