That $60 'authentic' vintage cookbook set was actually a modern reprint

Found out last week after cross-referencing the copyright page on my supposedly 1950s Better Homes and Gardens set - paid $60 at an antique mall in Portland for something worth $15 new. Has anyone else fallen for the aged-paper trick with these reprints?

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amy9753mo ago

Check the paper texture and binding glue next time - real vintage books have that specific musty smell no reprint can fake. Also flip to the last page for the printer's code, those numbers tell you the exact printing year every time. Got burned once on a Betty Crocker reprint and now I bring a magnifying glass to every booth lol.

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charles9193mo ago

Huh, @amy975 is right about the printer's code being a solid shortcut, but I’d argue the "musty smell" thing can be faked pretty easily with a quick spray of old book scent oil. I’ve seen reprints that are intentionally distressed with that smell and even yellowed pages, so it’s not a foolproof tell. Better to check the paper grain or look for modern staples in the binding instead.

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