Here’s a well-used, well-loved 1944 edition of America’s Cook Book, the kind of kitchen workhorse cooks still reach for today. Compiled by the New York Herald Tribune’s Home Institute, this massive volume blends everyday home cooking with wartime creativity and substitutions that shaped mid-century American food.
With over a thousand pages, you’ll find everything from broths and sauces to canning, baking, and classic desserts.
This copy shows its history, but it’s complete, readable, and ready to serve the next curious cook or collector.
Quick Specs
Item Type: Vintage Cookbook (Hardcover)
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Size: 9 × 6 × 2 in
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Material: Cloth boards
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Color: Black with yellow deco lettering
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Origin or Maker: Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York
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Year or Era: 1944
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GENRE: Vintage Cookbook / Culinary History
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Language / Pages: English, 1032 pages
Edition & Features
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Edition/Printing: 1944 Third Edition, includes wartime supplement
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Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Full-color photo endpapers; assorted interior section headers
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Extras: “This Cover Is Washable” embossed boards
Condition Grade: Fair
Notes: Heavy kitchen use throughout. Front hinge cracked open exposing mesh; back hinge also cracked. Spine cloth at head and tail frayed with some material loss. Corners worn to boards. Boards show rubbing and surface wear. Page edges stained and wavy; interior pages show age toning, cooking stains, and handling wear. Text remains complete and readable. A true vintage kitchen survivor.
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.
About the Compiler: The New York Herald Tribune Home Institute
The New York Herald Tribune Home Institute spent decades teaching practical home cooking to American households, producing dependable instructional books used across the country—especially during wartime.
Cookbook lovers know: the real gems are the ones that survived the kitchen.
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% humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
About Reading Vintage
At Reading Vintage, I curate one-of-a-kind treasures for book lovers, decorators, and collectors—including vintage books, retro bookends, and collectible pieces.
