How to Collect Old Recipe Books

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about old recipe books. 

From wartime ration guides to quirky 1970s jelly mould marvels, vintage cookbooks are time capsules of how we used to live, eat and entertain. 

If you’ve ever been charmed by browned pages, handwritten notes in the margins, or curious recipes using ingredients long forgotten, then collecting old recipe books might just become your next passion.

Here’s how to get started.

Why Collect Old Recipe Books?

Old cookbooks do more than provide recipes—they tell stories.

They reveal social history, culinary trends, and even regional ingredients that might no longer be in common use. You’ll learn how families made do during rationing, what counted as exotic in the 1950s, and what the average Sunday dinner looked like a century ago.

Where to Find Them

1. Charity Shops & Car Boot Sales

The British high street charity shop is a treasure trove for vintage books. Cookbooks are often donated in bundles, and older titles can go unnoticed on crowded shelves. Likewise, early mornings at car boot sales often uncover quirky or rare finds for pennies.

2. Online Marketplaces

eBay, AbeBooks, and Etsy are filled with vintage and antique cookbooks. Use search filters for decade, publisher, or region, and don’t be afraid to ask sellers for more info or internal page pics.

3. Library Sales & House Clearances

Public libraries often rotate stock, including donated or older cookery books. Estate sales and house clearances can yield full collections from a single person’s lifetime.

4. Specialist Bookshops & Fairs

Second-hand and antiquarian bookshops sometimes specialise in food and domestic history. Visit a rare book fair for curated selections and expert knowledge, though prices can be higher.

What to Look For

🔹 Age & Condition

Books pre-1950 are usually considered vintage. While condition is a factor, slight wear or notes often add to the charm—especially handwritten family additions.

🔹 Unique Themes or Eras

Look for niche topics: jelly and aspic from the 50s, microwave cookery from the 80s, or vegetarianism from the 70s. Each offers a cultural snapshot.

🔹 Local & Regional Titles

Cookbooks produced by churches, schools or local societies often contain regional gems you won’t find in mainstream publications.

🔹 First Editions or Signed Copies

These are collector gold, especially if the author was well known or the book became a culinary classic.

Caring for Your Collection

Store books upright in a dry, cool room.

Keep away from damp, sunlight, and food spills.

Use archival-quality sleeves for very old or delicate books.

If you want to try a recipe, photocopy the page instead of using the original.

Bonus Tip: Start a Digital Archive

Scan or photograph your favourite recipes and create your own searchable digital archive. You can even transcribe and share long-lost gems on a blog or social media to bring them back to life.

Final Thoughts

Collecting old recipe books is a beautiful blend of history, nostalgia, and culinary adventure. Each volume you find could be a glimpse into another era’s kitchen, waiting for you to rediscover its secrets and stories. Whether you're a casual browser or a serious collector, there’s a whole world of food history out there—one dog-eared page at a time.