How to Sell Vintage Cookbooks

While they are not technically considered to be antique, vintage cookbooks are still valuable, and are sometimes worth large amounts of money. The key is to find the right market. Determining where to sell an antique cookbook will require some effort, but it’s doable and certainly worth the time investment.

Start by researching the cookbook you’re selling. Different books have different values. Obscure cookbooks will obviously not be worth as much money as those by well known authors (such as Julia Child). The price is also affected by the condition of the book, as well as by the age.

Leaf through the cookbook and look for unique features. Special editions and signed copies are worth more than standard editions. If the book is in pristine condition it will also have a greater value.

Determine which online selling site is the best fit for your cookbook. Vintage cookbooks can be listed on Amazon, Abe Books, Etsy, Amazon, and of course eBay. There are many other used book sites as well. One of the best sites to sell vintage cookbooks on is eBay because they have so much traffic – plus many people think of eBay first when they’re looking for vintage and used items. Here are a few listings for vintage cookbooks that closed recently. Note the high prices:

While they are not technically considered to be antique, vintage cookbooks are still valuable, and are sometimes worth large amounts of money. The key is to find the right market. Determining where to sell an antique cookbook will require some effort, but it’s doable and certainly worth the time investment.

Start by researching the cookbook you’re selling. Different books have different values. Obscure cookbooks will obviously not be worth as much money as those by well known authors (such as Julia Child). The price is also affected by the condition of the book, as well as by the age.

Leaf through the cookbook and look for unique features. Special editions and signed copies are worth more than standard editions. If the book is in pristine condition it will also have a greater value.

Determine which online selling site is the best fit for your cookbook. Vintage cookbooks can be listed on Amazon, Abe Books, Etsy, Amazon, and of course eBay. There are many other used book sites as well. One of the best sites to sell vintage cookbooks on is eBay because they have so much traffic – plus many people think of eBay first when they’re looking for vintage and used items. Here are a few listings for vintage cookbooks that closed recently. Note the high prices:

Another option is to try to sell your vintage cookbooks to an antique store. They are always looking for more inventory, so this can be a great option. While you won’t be able to sell the book for as much as you could on your own, it is an easier option. For more ideas on what to sell on eBay, visit Online Selling Coach.

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Vintage cookbooks are a fantastic seller on eBay. After the release of “Julie & Julia” in 2009, sales of Julia Child vintage cookbooks especially have greatly increased.

A lot of people admire Julia Childs. She was very different from the normal women of her day – she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and was bold in her beliefs. She didn’t begin learning about cooking until she turned 40, and her boldness carried over to that part of her life as well. She liked to cook with rich ingredients such as wine and butter to ensure that her food would taste as delicious as possible. When cooking schools in France denied her entrance, she opened her own. Her cookbook was also denied many times before it was published. But in spite her of failures, she went on to become very successful.

Millions of Julia Child cookbooks have sold on eBay. First editions and autographed copies sell for the most amount of money. According to eBay research tools, the cookbooks have a sell through rate of 57% as well (a sell through rate of at least 50% is what you want to aim for when buying stock). Her most popular books include Baking with Julia, Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom, The Way to Cook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home.

Remember that most of these cookbooks are still available in bookstores. However, many people like the idea of owning a vintage copy – vintage books have more character than new editions.

Here are a few recent sales of Julia Child cookbooks:

Mastering the Art of French Cooking 1961 - Sold for $167.50

Mastering the Art of French Cooking 1961 - Sold for $120


Julia & Company Signed Cookbook - Sold for $113.61

Click here for a free list of more vintage items that sell well on eBay. Also, join me and over 2,000 other sellers discussing our eBay finds on Facebook.