A charming 1958 Jersey Shore community cookbook that feels equal parts recipe collection, local art portfolio, and mid-century coastal time capsule.
Jersey Shore Cooks and Artists was created by the Point Pleasant Hospital Guild and pairs regional recipes with black-and-white illustrations and decorative cover art by the Manasquan River Group of Artists.
For readers first, this one is fun to browse because it captures a place as much as a menu—clam chowder, local names, shore-town ads, boats, maps, and little slices of 1950s New Jersey life.
Quick Specs
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Item Type: Vintage spiral/plastic comb-bound community cookbook
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Size: 9 x 7 x 1 in.
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Material: Paper-covered boards with plastic comb binding
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Color: Blue, cream, and black
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Origin or Maker: Point Pleasant Hospital Guild, Point Pleasant, New Jersey
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Year or Era: 1958
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GENRE: Regional Cooking / Community Cookbook
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Language / Pages: English / 234 pages plus additional advertising pages
Edition & Features
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Edition/Printing: First Printing March 1958; Second Printing July 1958; Revised Edition
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Dust Jacket: Missing / none issued
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Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Illustrated throughout by the Manasquan River Group of Artists, including shore scenes, map, decorative drawings, and hand-lettered recipe pages
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Extras: Local Jersey Shore advertisements; map of the coast; plastic comb binding
Condition Grade: Good
Notes:
- Honest vintage condition with strong visual appeal. Front cover shows noticeable upward curl/warping, light creasing, edge wear, and mild surface soiling/discoloration.
- Back cover has more visible mottling/age spotting and general shelf wear. Corners show rubbing and bumping.
- Plastic comb binding is present and intact.
- Page block is age toned, and the text pages shown appear generally clean and readable overall.
See all photos for detail—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound reading copy; some marks.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
Provenance & Notes
Produced to benefit the Point Pleasant Hospital Guild. Antiquarian listings describe this title as a scarce first-edition style community cookbook with recipes by local residents, illustrations by local artists, and period advertisements that capture 1950s Jersey Shore commerce.
About the Author: Point Pleasant Hospital Guild
This is a community-made cookbook rather than a single-author title, which is part of its charm. The Point Pleasant Hospital Guild issued it in 1958, and records for the book note that it was illustrated by the Manasquan River Group of Artists and built around regional recipes and local contributors.
A terrific shelf-and-kitchen book for anyone who loves regional cooking with real local character.
Shelf-worthy vintage finds you can trust. Find Your Story.
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Disclaimer
The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide. While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings. Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
