Crocker, Betty.

Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book.

Minneapolis: General Mills, 1950.

Large octavo, 449 pages. First edition, first printing. A deluxe issue, in a specially designed binding which folds with the opening book to become a book stand. The original boards have been set into a red cloth binding of uneven pentagonal shape. Sewn creases allow the binding to expand under the book to become a stand. I have not been able to confirm whether this binding was specially created for the Betty Crocker/General Mills company, or was added afterwards by an owner. The detail of the binding, and the gilt stamped text on the front panel of the binding and the spine, lead me to conclude that it was made for the company. The book itself has a light waterstain, but no adhesion, to the first few pages. Otherwise it is internally very good, showing only a moderate use. The unusual binding has some edge rubbing, but is otherwise in very good condition, and is delightful to see, either when folded closed, or set up as a book stand. The Betty Crocker Company was known for multiple states of its famous cookbooks, and for issuing many deluxe and extra deluxe models, most of which are very scarce. This one is no exception.