Mastering the Art of French Cooking — Knopf 1967

📖 Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, Simone Beck (1967, Alfred A. Knopf) — A watershed achievement in culinary literature, this legendary work revolutionized home dining by demystifying classical French technique for American domestic kitchens. This fifteenth printing, April 1967, retains its original unclipped dust jacket and is in Very Good condition with minor wear.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, Simone Beck
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York
• Year: 1967 (Fifteenth Printing, April 1967)
• Format: Hardcover in dust jacket
• Pages: 684 (less index) | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN era)
• Condition: full report below

THE STORY

Published first in 1961, Mastering the Art of French Cooking introduced American cooks to the rigor and elegance of French haute cuisine through clear, step‑by‑step instructions. The collaboration between Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle spanned years of recipe testing, resulting in a volume that remains a foundational reference for both amateur and professional chefs. Its influence extends beyond the kitchen, shaping culinary education and inspiring generations of home cooks to embrace French cooking techniques.

THIS EDITION

This specific copy is the fifteenth printing from April 1967, distinguished by its original dust jacket bearing the unclipped $10.00 price. Printed by Alfred A. Knopf as part of the Borzoi Books imprint, it features the classic typographic and binding design by Warren Chappell. As a mid‑1960s printing, it captures the book’s early widespread popularity while retaining the original line drawings by Sidonie Coryn.

COVER ART / ILLUSTRATIONS / DESIGN

The volume is illustrated throughout with detailed technical line drawings by Sidonie Coryn, clarifying techniques such as sauce preparation, pastry lamination, and meat butchery. Binding and typography were handled by Warren Chappell, contributing to the book’s durable and elegant presentation. The cover features a simple cloth design with gilt stamping, typical of early Knopf Borzoi editions.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Considered one of the most important cookbooks of the 20th century, it transformed American home cooking by making French techniques accessible.
• The book has remained in print for over sixty years, with multiple editions and reprints attesting to its enduring relevance.
• It was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2000, recognizing its lasting impact on culinary literature.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is the fifteenth printing, published in April 1967, with the original 1961 copyright date.

What condition is it in? The book is graded Very Good (VG) with a Very Good‑ dust jacket; see the full condition report below.

Is the dust jacket included? Yes, the original unclipped dust jacket is present, showing only minor chipping and short closed tears.

FOR COLLECTORS

Collectors value early Knopf printings for their original dust jackets and the presence of Sidonie Coryn’s illustrations, which are often omitted in later reprints.

#### **Condition Report**
* **Overall Grade:** Book: Very Good (VG) / Jacket: Very Good-
* **Cover & Spine:** Decorative patterned cloth boards are firm and vibrant; minor shelf bumping to extremities; gilt and stamped motifs remain clean.
* **Dust Jacket:** Unclipped ($10.00); minor chipping and short closed tears at spine head, heel, and outer folds; prior owner has wrapped the jacket in a plastic overwrap that is taped to itself, not the book or the cover, so it can be removed if desired.  Unfortunately, due to the many years, the adhesive of the tape has bled over to the end papers, both front and back, so there is transparent tape “ghosts” tope and bottoms of both end papers.
* **Text Block & Pages:** Text block edges are somewhat tanned and show some typical kitchen spotting all around.  Sprayed upper edge is somewhat sunned but fairly uniform and spot free, block is square and tight.  No loose, torn or folded pages.  Aside from used bookstore price inside front cover, no writing in the volume.  Internally the pages are bright and pleasing
* **Binding:** Sewn binding is firm, square, and structurally sound; hinges tight.
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See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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