I know who in the family is a great cook. I know where the great recipes are. Irma Rombauer

{HISTORY}

Irma Rombauer published Joy of Cooking following the death of her husband when she was in her early 50s. People didn't necessarily know her for being an expert in cooking, although parties at her house were fun and delicious, and she herself, a charming hostess. But when her husband committed suicide, Irma was left to fend for herself and fund the rest of her life, so she got to work on writing a cookbook of cooking... techniques, recipes, and equipment.

She called it Joy of Cooking and it quickly came to be just that. A bible for all home cooks, novice and professional, it launched a career for Irma that made her world famous. Since its debut, Joy of Cooking has been revised and enhanced by Rombauer generations to keep the information current and up to date for today's food makers. Since its debut, the Joy of Cooking has sold over 18 million copies worldwide and remains one of the most beloved cookbooks of all time for not only for its concise instruction but also its wealth of good recipes. 

This is a 1976 UK printing of the 1964 edition which was co-authored by Irma's daughter, Marion. Published in London by J.M. Dent,  it is an exciting and rare find when it comes to Joy of Cooking versions and a wonderful example of the far-reaching enthusiasm that Irma's cookbook had not only on American kitchens but international ones as well. 

While still retaining all the hallmarks of Irma and Marion's voice and the original recipe layout intended for American kitchens, there are some subtle differences between the American versions and the British versions. 

This UK version contains a British measurement conversion chart and the inclusion of the word "The" on the book spine and title page. All the American versions simply refer to Irma's work as Joy of Cooking, but in England, it was referred to (and printed) as The Joy of Cooking. A subtle difference that makes this edition very unique from a collecting perspective.

There is also no ribbon marker that is generally found in all vintage versions of American Joy. The illustrators behind this version are Ginnie Hofmann and Beverly Warner as opposed to Ginnie Hofmann and Ikki Motsumoto of the American version.

The final difference between this British version and the American editions is the grey coverboard featuring an illustrated bunch of gold and orange carrots. This is a UK design, and never appeared on any American Joy coverboards. Another fun find for the Joy collector.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1974 printing of the 1963 enlarged American edition
• Published by J.M Dent & Sons, London
• 849 pages including highly detailed index
• Illustrated by Ginnie Hofmann and Beverly Warner
• Rare UK edition

{CONDITION}

Befitting of a beloved cookbook, this one bears signs of previous kitchen adventures in the form of light cooking splatters on the foredge, on the endpapers in back and on a few interior pages. Thee are also some cooking notations written in pencil in the baking sections and the inclusion of a paper copy of Mrs. Field's (secret!) Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that circulated widely among home bakers in the 1980s. The coverboards are clean and bright. The spine is tight and all pages are intact. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 6.5" inches (width) x 9.25" inches (length) x 1.5" inches (thickness) and weighs almost 2.5 lbs.

{FOR THE LOVE OF JOY}

Joy spreads joy for certain! Look for more editions of Joy of Cooking in the shop here.