This is a two-piece Vintage Cookbooks, Culinary History lot—great for collectors who like their food history with real paper texture.
Included are The Cookery Calendar (Woman’s World Magazine Co., Chicago) and H.W. McNess’ Cook Book (Furst-McNess Company, Freeport, Illinois). You’ll find month-by-month “seasonable recipes,” cooking time tables, and classic American baking advice—plus a very ad-era McNess booklet with baking “secrets” and product tie-ins.
Quick Specs
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Item Type: Vintage cookbook bundle (2 softcover booklets)
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Size: Cookery Calendar 10 × 7 in; McNess Cook Book 9 × 6 in
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Material: Paper/printed booklets
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Color: Multicolor illustrated covers; interior black/red text with color ad art
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Origin or Maker: Woman’s World Magazine Co., Inc. (Chicago, U.S.A.); Furst-McNess Company (Freeport, Illinois)
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Year or Era: 1927 and 1935 (copyright years shown in photos)
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GENRE: Vintage Cookbooks / Culinary History / Americana Advertising Cookbook
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Language / Pages: English / Cookery Calendar: 50 pages; McNess Cook Book: 63 pages
Edition & Features
Extras:
- McNess booklet includes “foreign recipes” pages shown with headings like GERMANY and ESPAÑA / SPAIN (Spanish-language recipe page shown).
- Color advertising page shown: “Refreshing Drinks Quickly Prepared” with illustrated syrup bottles and dessert/jelly suggestion text.
- Dealer recruitment page shown: “More McNess Dealers Wanted” (as pictured).
Condition Grade: Fair
Notes: Heavy, honest vintage wear throughout—these are well-used ephemera-style cookbooks. Covers show strong creasing, edge wear, rubbing/scuffing, and age toning; corners show rounding and small losses/tears in places (see photos). The McNess Cook Book is hole-punched at the top corner (visible on multiple pages) and includes a name stamp on the “Refreshing Drinks” page: “LEO. M. SARTWELL / The McNess Man / Birch Run, Mich. RFD 1” (as pictured).
- 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
Estate history: Not provided.
Name/mark visible: “LEO. M. SARTWELL / The McNess Man / Birch Run, Mich. RFD 1” stamped on one McNess page (shown).
About the Author / Maker
Woman’s World Magazine Co., Inc. (Chicago) issued The Cookery Calendar as a tested-recipe and menu-planning guide (publisher credit shown on cover and interior pages). Furst-McNess Company (Freeport, Illinois) published the F.W. McNess Cook Book as a branded cookbook with recipes plus product-forward kitchen tips and advertising art (multiple interior ad pages shown).
One lot, two eras—perfect for collectors who like their culinary history with real patina.
Disclaimer (Shopify)
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 flat or upright with support, 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.
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 charming collectible pieces.
