A Book of Good Dinners for My Friend by Fanny Merritt Farmer | 1914 Antique Cookbook | Bixley Shop

RARE! A Book of Good Dinners for My Friend or What to Have for Dinner was written by Fanny Merritt Farmer in 1905. This is a second edition published in 1914. The book features menus and recipes for Family Dinners, Dinners for Occasions, and Company & Formal Dinners.

Of interest, we believe there is a printer's error. On the cover, Mrs. Farmer's name is spelled "Fanny" but on the title page, it's spelled "Fannie."  As one of the most famous cooks and cookbook authors in American history, we all know her as "Fannie."

A wonderful addition to any antique cookbook library or for anyone who loves lunch(eon)!

ABOUT FANNIE FARMER
Fannie Merritt Farmer (1857-1915) was an American culinary expert whose Boston Cooking-School Cook Book became a widely used culinary text. At the age of 30 she enrolled in the Boston Cooking School. Farmer was considered one of the school's top students, graduating in 1889 and staying on as assistant to the director. In 1891, she took the position of school principal. Fannie published her best-known work, The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, in 1896. A follow-up to an earlier version called Mrs. Lincoln's Boston Cook Book, published by Mary J. Lincoln in 1884, the book under Farmer's direction eventually contained 1,850 recipes, from milk toast to Zigaras à la Russe. Farmer also included essays on housekeeping, cleaning, canning and drying fruits and vegetables, and nutritional information. The book's publisher (Little, Brown & Company) did not predict good sales and limited the first edition to 3,000 copies, published at the author's expense. However, the book was so popular in America, so thorough, and so comprehensive that cooks would refer to later editions simply as the Fannie Farmer Cookbook, and it is still available in print over 100 years later.

BIXLEY NOTES
• A Book of Good Luncheons or What to Have for Luncheon 
• Written by Fanny (Fannie) Merritt Farmer
• 259 page soft cover cookbook
• Published by Dodge Publishing, 1915 (second edition)
• Entertaining tips, recipes, menus for dinners
• Measures 9 1/4" x 6 1/4"

VINTAGE NOTES
• In very good condition for its age (over 110 years old)
• Binding is tattered but the book is still secure
• Cover is a bit dingy and tattered around the edges
• Needs to be handled gently

At Bixley, forgotten treasures are looking for a home to call their own. We love the "as is" quality of vintage pieces and hope you do too. Please read our description carefully and take a good look at our photos. We'll do our best to point out any of the bumps and bruises of age.

Browse for more great vintage finds here on Bixley or at Bixley on Etsy.