Joy of Cooking, 1974 — Irma S. Rombauer & Marion Rombauer Becker | Vintage Bobbs-Merrill Cookbook, Robins Egg Blue Hardcover, Illustrated

A handsome 1974 edition of Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker, published by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc.

This is the 849-page edition with a robins-egg-blue cover and two built-in ribbon bookmarks. The book is illustrated by Ginnie Hofmann and Beverly Warner, with black-and-white drawings throughout and full-page color photographs. The combination of the drawings, photographs, typography, and blue cover gives this edition a particularly nice mid-century look.

Joy of Cooking needs little introduction. First published in 1931, it became one of the most widely used American cookbooks of the 20th century, and the Rombauers’ approach was notably practical and thorough. This edition covers an enormous range of cooking, from soups, sauces, vegetables, meat and seafood to breads, cakes, desserts, preserves, drinks, and everyday meals, along with the detailed instructions and kitchen information that became a hallmark of the book.

This edition measures 6.5” x 9.25” and has 849 pages. It is in good condition with some wear to the cover, soiling, and age spots. This is a particularly nice vintage cookbook for anyone who remembers Joy of Cooking from the kitchen shelf, or for a collection of classic American cookbooks.