OP: First Editions of Maida Heatter's First Three Books
Maida Heatter (1916–2019), whose baking career began during World War II when she and her mother made hundreds of dozens of cookies to send to the troops overseas, wrote seven great cookbooks between 1974 and 1995. This concentrated output of creative energy made an epic contribution to the home baking world.
Heatter’s meticulous attention to detail made her a reliable and trusted author, and her recipes and cookbooks have remained popular, as they are shared and passed down to younger generations. Despite their popularity, all the original books went out of print. Three compilations have been published in recent years, repackaging some of the earlier material.
We offer here first edition volumes of Maida Heatter’s first three books—Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Desserts (1974), Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Cookies (1977), and Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Chocolate Desserts (1980). These titles have been much loved over the years, and the condition of second hand copies usually reflects that. Ours are all at least Very Good.
The Book of Great Desserts—the origin of one of Heatter’s most sought recipes, the East 62nd Street lemon cake—bears an occasional food stain and a few notes from a previous owner indicating “excellent” recipes. The jacket shows most of the wounds of long use in a kitchen—some dampstaining, paperloss at the head and foot of the spine, and a closed tear on the rear top edge.
The Book of Great Cookies shows minor evidence of food staining and a few notes, probably from the same previous owner, marking the “excellent” recipes—you might, therefore, be inclined to start with black and white coconut slices. The jacket shows most of its wear around the top of the spine.
The Book of Great Chocolate Desserts is in near fine condition with a very good dust jacket, a few additional recipe clippings laid in.
All three jackets have been put in mylar sleeves to protect from further damage.
An excellent start for a new collector or a nostalgic addition to an established collection.
