Who needs a book of etiquette? Everyone does! This book contains, I believe, explicit information on every possible social problem one is likely to encounter in modern social living. Amy Vanderbilt (from the preface)

{HISTORY}

During the 20th century, Amy Vanderbilt was the foremost authority on how to elegantly breeze through all the social aspects of life in forms of communication, hospitality, congeniality, personal regard and care for others. In 1952, she published her first book on manners and etiquette which took her four years to compile, interviewing hundreds of people around the world to in order to accurately convey the most up-to-date appropriate information on how to handle just about any situation under the sun.

Revised and updated every couple of years, this 1963 edition of Amy Vanderbilt's New Complete Book of Etiquette features gold thumb tabs for easy reference and a larger size. By the time this edition had been published, eleven years since its original debut in 1952, Amy's etiquette book had sold over 1.3 million copies. Four years after this edition,  that number would increase to 2 million copies.

Considered the standard bible of gracious living, each edition is fun to collect because they offer new sections or updates on situations not accounted for in previous versions. This 1963 edition contains over 730 pages of advice and guidance on so many interesting situations ranging from family life to career to travel and entertainment.

You might think that most of the info inside is outdated since it was written over 55 years ago - but you would be very wrong to assume such a possibility. Good manners, never ever go out of style. Most of the information contained in here is just as practical and applicable in today's world as it was back then. And although we don't send telegrams anymore or travel by train as much or refer to office assistants as secretaries, at the heart of the non-applicable scenarios is respect, which we can all be reminded of over and over again. Plus those pop-culture references to a different era are a fascinating look into what life was really like back then.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Contains original 1963 dust jacket

- Thumb tab index for easy reference

- Drawings throughout by Mary Suzuki and Andrew Warhol (yes, that's THE Andy Warhol!)

- Contains 738 pages broken down into 9 parts and 76 chapters

- Super Interesting topics include Masculine Graces, the Fastidious Woman, the New Citizen, Welcoming oVerseas Guests, Conversation Ice Breakers, the Art of Being Well Groomed, The Woman Executive, Gracious Living without Servants, Ship Launches and Visiting a Naval Vessel, How Customs Differ Abroad, An Audience with the Pope, You and Celebrities, and so much more!!!

{CONDITION}

Bright, clean pages. Some foxing on front and back end papers. Chippy dustjacket that has been repaired in some spots with tape.  Some stain splatter marks on top spine of book.  The spine is tight, all pages intact and thumb tabs securely adheared.

{SIZE}

Measures 6.5" inches (width) x 9.5" inches (length) x 2.25" inches (depth).

{WHY IT IS STILL SO IMPORTANT}

Especially fitting in today's day and age, when it's like the wild west as far as how people talk to and treat people via social media, and on the internet in general, good manners and respectable communication is more important than ever.

*** You'll notice two etiquette books in some of the pictures. The smaller version is the 1967 edition that is available in the shop here.