Pillsbury Cookbooks

In 1889, the operation (along with other mills) was purchased and became part of the Pillsbury-Washburn Company, Ltd., a new British company. Charles A. Pillsbury remained involved until near the time of his death in 1899.

1900:
Pillsbury's first baking contest was held in 1900. According to the Pillsbury website, and this original ad, the prizes from that contest totaled a mere $680. Vitos had been introduced in 1897 as a breakfast food. The cereal rapidly became so popular that other companies copied it. Vitos later became known as "Pillsbury's Wheat Cereal."

Pillsbury's Vitos Recipe and Household Expense Book, 36 pages.
5" by 6 3/4"
A collection of 86 recipes and a table for writing in one's "household expenses." Subtitled The Vitos Cook Book, this appears to have been Pillsbury's first cookbook. Advertisements from 1900 such as this one indicate that the booklet was available for free from grocers who marketed Vitos.

Pillsbury attended the 1900 Paris Exposition, which commenced in April. There were 76,000 exhibitors during the event, which attracted over fifty million people. According to an article in the May, 1900, issue of Overland Monthly, although the United States was not alloted any more space than the European nations, one goal of the American exhibit was to display for the first time the raw products, manufacturing processes, and finished products side by side. Pillsbury was awarded a gold medal in 1901 for their part in the exhibition.

1904:

This triumph was followed in 1904 by representation in the Saint Louis Exposition (World's Fair), where Pillsbury was awarded three grand prizes. Pillsbury had a small pamphlet prepared, which was handed out during the exhibition in St. Louis.

Flour Recipes, by Fannie Farmer, Isabel Howard Neff, Myra Russell Garrett, et. al., 32 pages. Original price: free. Contents compiled for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. The recipes inside are made with Pillsbury's Best Flour and with Vito's. This booklet was handed out at the World's Fair, as indicated on the back cover. Copies were made available to retailers immediately after the Fair as well. SI = 7

Resulting from the demand for recipes, Pillsbury determined to publish a booklet based on the recipes that were on display at the exhibition. Two books surfaced the following year:

1905:

A Little Book for a Little Cook, by L. P. Hubbard, 28 pages. Pillsbury's first childrens' cookbook, released at the same time as their general cookbook (see below). This smaller paperback advertises that when children have mastered the recipes contained in it, they should consider sending in ten cents for the complete Book for a Cook. SI = 8

A Book for a Cook, by L. P. Hubbard, 128 pages. Original price: 10c. Contents compiled by Nellie Duling Gans for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. This book was available for free by sending in coupons from certain magazines. SI = 5

Nellie Duling Gans was the Director of the Chicago Cooking College from 1887 to 1915. The Northwestern Yeast Company employed her services in 1890 to compile their book, Good Bread -- How to Make It. Gans used Pillsbury's Best flour exclusively at the 1904 World's Fair and took the Grand Prize. She adapted her prize-winning recipes for home use, resulting in A Book for a Cook. Gans also published the Rex Beef Extract booklet for the Cudahy Packing Company (Omaha, NE) in 1905. Rex also produced bacon, ham, and other meats; one of their mottos was "The Taste Tells." In fact, their "Extract of Beef" won several awards in competition. Gans also submitted the recipes for Jell-O's second advertising booklet, Jell-O, the Dainty Dessert, first available that same year.

c. 1905-1908:

Made in Minneapolis, 4 pages. This pamphlet asks rhetorically on the back cover whether there is a man in America who isn't proud when his wife can bake a good loaf of bread. Inside, it advertises A Book for a Cook and gives recipes for bread, biscuits, cake, and pie crust. SI = 8

The year 1908 was not a good one. With a banking panic going on in the US, Pillsbury-Washburn was forced into receivership, showing a loss for the first 8 months of the year. The mills closed temporarily (although the "A" mill was out for less than three days). An operating company was established that became (in 1909) the Pillsbury Flour Mills Company. This operating company gained authority over the flour mills later that year and began to pull Pillsbury out of debt.

1911:

The Pillsbury Cook Book, 126 pages. 6" by 9.25" front page pictures Pillsbury's "A" Mill last page is a "pass" allowing a free tour of the Pillsbury flour mill. SI = 4

This year, the "A" Mill was reinforced structurally and a flour laboratory was constructed on the top floor of the Pillsbury headquarters. The "A" Mill had suffered from dry rot and general use, but the reinforcements (which took two years) kept the mill in working order for many years.

1913:
The Pillsbury Cook Book, 126 pages.
"A" mill photo and "pass", as 1911
SI = 3 or 4

1914:

The Pillsbury Cook Book, 126 pages. First cover: picture of Pillsbury's "A" Mill, as 1911 SI = 3 Second cover: colonial couple; "Cook-Book" is hyphenated. SI = 3 The colonials came to be used in Pillsbury advertising, at least until 1930. "Little Nick" was the name associated with the male character. One book places the introduction of the characters as early as 1910. The Cook-Book came in a brown envelope with "From the Pillsbury Flour Mills Company, Minneapolis, Minn." in large letters across the front. No value has yet been established for the envelope, nor an SI rating.

This year, the combined output for all of the mills in Minneapolis reached a record total of 18,541,650 barrels.

In 1919, Pillsbury redesigned their boxed products to emphasize that the company was producing a "family of foods." The new design, found on the cookbook also beginning in 1924, contained a red and white swirl.

c. 1919-1920:

Pillsbury's Health Bran -- Ask Your Grocer, 12 pages When the "family of foods" concept was first marketed, Pillsbury's Health Bran was introduced in this little booklet that was also included with copies of Pillsbury's Cook Book in 1920. The booklet describes Health Bran as, among other things, "a mild laxative".

What He Told Her, 10 pages, fold out One side of the brochure contains a story ad for Pillsbury's Best flour and picture ads for the flour, Pillsbury's Best Cereal, and Pillsbury's Health Bran. The other side consists of five recipes. The drawing of Pillsbury's Wheat Cereal depicts the earlier style Vito's box, not the newer "swirl" design. SI = 7

1920:
Pillsbury's Cook Book
SI = 5

1921:

Pillsbury's Cook Book, 96 pages. soft cover Inset drawing of flour bags and mixing bowl on cover. SI = 4

1922:
In '22, Pillsbury added a mill in Atchison, Kansas. With the addition of another mill in Buffalo (NY) in 1923, Pillsbury's capacity for flour production increased to 42,000 barrels per day. By this time, the "A" Mill had expanded to include a South "A" Mill, a Rye Mill, and large grain elevators (capable of holding four million bushels of grain). This area came to be called the East Side Milling District.

The Story of Flour, 28 pages.
Includes a fold out diagram of the "A" mill operation.
Hardback
Reissued in 1928
Reissued again (as a softbound) in 1940
SI = 6

(Buy this Flour Because) Pillsbury's Best, 10 pages Dated September, 1922. Apart from cosmetic changes, this pamphlet was reprinted in 1927 and called "One of the Family." "Form 924."

1923:
Pillsbury's Cook Book, 75 pages.
8" x 10"
Inset drawing of flour bags and mixing bowl on cover.
Historical information updated.
Earlier issues had string hole (in upper left corner), whereas this issue does not.

1924:

Pillsbury's Cook Book, 48 pages Red and white swirl cover. Note: This is the same design that adorned the Pillsbury boxed products of the period, beginning in 1919.

1925:

Pillsbury's Household Manual, 78 pages by Mary Ellis Ames Includes a chapter of recipes 7.5" x 9" SI = 5

1926:

50 Prize-Winning Recipes for Pillsbury's Health Bran, 16 pages Reissued in 1929 as ...Recipes for Pillsbury's Wheat Bran, noting the change in product name. SI = 4

15 Prize-Winning Recipes for Pillsbury's Health Bran, 12 pages
About 3" x 6"
An abridged form of the above booklet.
"Form 766"

1927:
Pillsbury's Cook Book, 48 pages.
5" x 8", as 1924 issue.
SI = 3

One of the Family, fold out booklet, 8 "pages"
Depicts Pancake Flour, Farina, and Health Bran on the back
"Form 924." Apart from cosmetic changes, this is a reprint of the "Buy this flour" pamphlet from 1922.
SI = 7

100 Delicious Foods from 4 Basic Recipes, 30 pages Brown front cover with woman baking About 6" by 5" Back cover has slogan, "One of the Family" SI = 7

1929:
Pillsbury's Cook Book, 48 pages
5" x 7.5", as 1924 issue.
SI = 3

15 Prize-Winning Recipes for Pillsbury's Wheat Bran An abridged form of the booklet first put out in 1926 (see above) and reissued in 1929.

Also in 1929, Pillsbury began to sponsor radio shows. Certain programs were popular enough that booklets and premiums were published which promoted not only the shows but also Pillsbury. Finally, Pillsbury's Cake Flour was introduced this year.

Early 1930's:

New Recipes for Pillsbury Cake Flour, 10 pages by Ida Bailey Allen, author of cooking booklets for Beech-Nut (1923), Coca Cola (1932), Karo Corn Syrup (1927), and several of her own cookbooks. She was a radio personality and was the founder of the Radio Home-Makers' Club. SI = 5+

Pillsbury's Best Flour: Flavor, Economy, Sure
Fold-out pamphlet featuring "Little Nick"

1932:
15 Wonderful Recipes Inside -- Look!
This pamphlet featuring "Little Nick" has drawings of several Pillsbury products, including Pillsbury's Cake Flour.

1933:

Balanced Recipes, 224 recipe" cards Aluminum spiral bound. $1.25 original cost SI = 2

Mary Ellis Ames, Director of the Pillsbury Cooking Service, offered her own cooking program on CBS radio. In the years that followed, "Cooking Close-Ups" was aired on both Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Twenty-One Successful Little Dinners, 48 pages
by Mary Ellis Ames (Director)
Advertises the Balanced Recipes book.
Released through Pillsbury's Cooking Service.
SI = 6

c. 1934:
Pillsbury's New Cookery Ideas, 14 pages
fold-out pamphlet numbered "No. 12 of a series". Contains a coupon good for 25c off of Balanced Recipes

Good Things to Eat, 16 pages 5.25" by 8.25" Twelve recipes. What makes this booklet unique is the fact that alternate pages are in Hebrew. The book includes a recipe for "Sabbath Twists" and was obviously marketed to Jewish customers.

1935:
Cookery Club Bulletins.
Numbers 1 through 18 plus Christmas, 1934, bulletin known.
For a ten cent membership rate per three month period, anyone could join Pillsbury's Cookery Club and receive three bulletins. These booklets were hole-punched so that they could be inserted into the Balanced Recipes book.
A silver (paper) cover resembling the aluminum cover to Balanced Recipes was made to contain them and was available from the club for ten cents.
SI = 6

c. 1936:

15 Delightful New Recipes You Will Want to Try, 6 pages by Mary Ellis Ames SI = 6

1941:

Let's Bake!, 96 pages. by Mary Ellis Ames Subtitled "A Handbook of Baking;" the inside title is "Your Guide to Better Baking" Three-spiral bound

1942:

Fightin' Food, 36 pages Talks about cooking nutritious meals and how flour is an important tool during wartime. See also the "Student Edition" of 1943. SI = 6

c. 1942-43

Pillsbury's 40 War Time Recipes, 24 pages Pillsbury customers were feeling the pinch to conserve, and so the company provided this booklet. Not only do these recipes help to conserve sugar and butter but wheat and lard as well! SI = 6

1943

Fightin' Food, 13 pages "Student Edition" three binder holes Talks about rationing and how flour is an important nutritive tool during wartime. SI = 6

Ann Pillsbury's Sugar-Shy Recipes, 8 pages.
Ann Pillsbury's Meat Miser Magic, 8 pages.
Choice Ann Pillsbury Wheat Emergency Recipes, 8 pages
The above three pamphlets have similar black-and-white cover designs. Each of them features wartime versions of "regular" recipes.

The Three "Rs" of Wartime Baking Subtitled: "Ration, 'Richment, and Recipes 6" x 5" by Mary Ellis Ames SI = 7

1944:

Pillsbury's Diamond Anniversary Recipes, 32 pages 8.5" by 11" Available free from magazines Appears to be the first appearance of "Ann Pillsbury," a fictitious character created for marketing purposes. "Ann Pillsbury" essentially represented the members of the Pillsbury Home Service Department. SI = 4

Cookin' Up Kitchen Dates, 24 pages Booklet for teenagers Lists the "seven" basic food groups SI = 6

In September, the company name was changed from Pillsbury Flour Mills Company to Pillsbury Mills, Inc..

1945:

Higher, Finer Textured, Better Tasting Cakes, 16 pages. Subtitled: "with Sno-Sheen"

Sugar 'n Spice and Everything Nice, 8 pages. Folder number 41 in a series from the Pillsbury Home Service Department, this little booklet contains five dessert recipes. Form 10-299. SI = 8

The Talking Millstones, by Camilla Wing, 78 pages. A history of the milling of flour. Illustrated by Henry C. Pitz SI = 5

Baking is Fun...the Ann Pillsbury Way, 64 pages. The first printing from 1945 has a pink cover. The second printing, also from 1945, has a blue cover and a different central photo. That second printing features "streamlined" quick-mix and no-knead recipes and would become the basis for the reissue in 1946 (see below). SI = 7

1946:

Bake the No-Knead Way: Ann Pillsbury's Amazing Discovery, 64 pages. Second copyright. First copyright is 1945. This '46 edition expands on the no-knead concept from the second edition of 1945. It was further reissued in 1948. Shipped in red and white envelope. SI = 2

1948:

Tasty Talk, by Ann Pillsbury, 6 pages. This original "Tasty Talk" booklet gave rise to a series of short pamphlets, all of them called "Ann Pillsbury's Tasty Talk." These newsletters were subtitled differently, depending upon their content. Known subtitles include "Fun With Cookies," "Fun With Breads," and "Easy Tricks for Picnic and Patio Fun." Since the introductions to the recipes themselves refer to the early Bake-Offs, the "Tasty Talk" newsletters were issued c. 1958-9.

Baking is Fun, 64 pages. This is the 1948 reissue of the earlier booklets (1945, 1946). SI = 3

Adventures in Cake Craft, by Ann Pillsbury, 40 pages SI = 3

1949:
Globe A-1 Biscuit Book, 20 pages

1950:

Ann Pillsbury's Baking Book, 361 pages. A Pocket Book paperback edition, number 789. Reprinted in 1951, in 1954, in 1959, and again in 1961. Also available in Hardback through A.S. Barnes & Co.; also 361 pages. SI = 6 in hardback SI = 3 in paperback

c. 1950:
12 New Cake Recipes
Subtitled: "Made With Pillsbury's Sno-Sheen Cake Flour"
small pamphlet

Pillsbury's Ten Thousand Dollar Bakery Formula Book
Spiral bound, gold cover
Contains 121 "formulas" (recipes)
SI = 6 or 7

1952:

Kate Smith Chooses her 55 Favorite Cake Recipes, by "Ann Pillsbury," 64 pages. SI = 2

Ann Pillsbury's $200,000 Prize Winning CB, 144 pages. Contains recipes from the first three Grand National Bake-Offs. Published by Fawcett at 75c, #171. SI = 2 or 3

300 Pillsbury Prize Recipes, 383 pages. Contains recipes from the first three Grand National Bake-Offs. Published by Dell (#D112) at 35c. SI = 4

1954:

Cakes Professional package for bakers using Pillsbury products in cooking. Photocopies of typed recipes in a light blue binder. Contains one recipe from the 5th Grand National Bake-Off.

Ann Pillsbury's New Cook Book, 144 pages Fawcett Publications #226. 9.5" by 6" Pillsbury had already published their Bake-Off materials in experimental formats. This cookbook contains the "100 prize-winning recipes" from the 5th Grand National Bake-Off, but the format and publisher were similar to the $200,000 Prize Winning Cook Book from 1952. 75c (paper) or $2.00 (hardback) cover price.

1955:

Pillsbury's Prize Winning Cook book, 144 pages Fawcett Publications, "How to" series #265. 9.5" by 6" Pillsbury had already published their Bake-Off materials in experimental formats. This cookbook contains the "100 prize-winning recipes" from the 6th Grand National Bake-Off, but the format and publisher were similar to the $200,000 Prize Winning Cook Book from 1952. 75c (paperback) or $2.00 (hardback) cover price. SI = 4 (paper) or 6 (hard)

Pillsbury's Prize Winners
Were All Baked With French's Spices and Extracts, pamphlet
Contains those recipes from the 6th Grand National Bake-Off that were prepared with French's seasonings.

New Horizons in Baking, 153 pages (including 8 dividers)
Small three-ring binder
Sold to professional bakers. Contains recipes for rolls, cakes, donuts, and biscuits.

1957:

Fun Filled Butter Cookie Cookbook, 48 pages. Book mentions the 7th Bake-Off 15c original price. SI = 3

1958:

Pillsbury's Best New Butter Cookie Cookbook, (Vol. II), 48 pages. yellow cover 20c original price. SI = 2

Best One-Dish Meals Cookbook, 54 pages.
Binder holes; mentions 9th Bake-Off
No cover price; used as a premium
SI = 2

1959:

Best Loved Foods of Christmas, 66 pages. Binder holes; mentions 10th Bake-Off 25c original price SI = 3

Best of the Bake-Off Collection, 608 pages 1000 recipes; a collection from the first ten Bake-Offs Hardback with dj. Published by Consolidated Book Publishers Regular edition has a slick white/multicolored cover; deluxe edition has a rough stock tan cover with gold print. SI = 3 (regular edition) or SI = 6 (deluxe edition)

Short-Cut Breads, 40 pages. Possibly 1959, since states "from Pillsbury's Best Bake-Off Collection". No price on cover; binder holes. SI = 3

Cool Ideas Cookbook, 33 pages. Possibly 1959, since states "from Pillsbury's Best Bake-Off Collection". No price on cover; binder holes. SI = 4

Butter Cookie Cookbook, Vol. III, 48 pages. red cover with binder holes 20c original price. SI = 2

1960's:
Pillsbury's 24 Meat 'N Potato Ideas, 22 pages
by "Ann Pillsbury."

Any Time Quick Bread Ideas, 14 pages

1961:

Fabulous Pies, 24 pages. No price on cover; binder holes. SI = 3

Butter Cookie Booklet, 24 pages. Contains 25 recipes from Pillsbury's "Best of the Bake-Off Collection". 6" wide by 5" high. SI = 5

In 1961, Pillsbury purchased an artificial sweetener business and began to market "Sweet 10," which became one of the most popular sweeteners on the market. From 1964 through 1969, Pillsbury sold "Funny Face" drink mix, which was similar to Kool Aid but which used Sweet 10. Sweet 10 was withdrawn in 1969 (due to an FDA ban of its formula), and Funny Face was reformulated to use saccharine. Funny Face continued to be popular throughout the 70's, although reduced sales in the late 70's caused Pillsbury to sell the product to Brady Enterprises in 1980.

1963:

Pillsbury Family Cookbook, 575 pages. Large size, regular bound, original cost $4.95. or in binder, original cost $5.95 SI = 1 Reissued in 1969. Reissued again in 1970. Reissued again in 1973 as The New...

Early 1960's:
Gift Box Butter Cookies, 32 pages
presents on cover

Fancy Free Entertaining, 16 pages
drawing of woman and party symbols on cover

Gravy Cookbook, 8 pages Shaped like Pillsbury's all-purpose flour shaker hard stock.

Hot Roll Mix Baking Book, 64 pages. binder holes; large blue Pillsbury logo SI = 4

Baking Like Mommy Pulp paper cover

Sweet 10 Calorie-Slim Recipes (from Pillsbury), 64 pages
Possibly c. 1961
This was reissued in 1967 as Calorie-Slim Recipes costing 50c.

1965:
The Pillsbury Doughboy, more formally "Poppin' Fresh," made his television debut in a commercial for Pillsbury's crescent rolls. Within a few years, he highlighted the cover of the Bake-Off cookbook series. Before long, he was everyone's favorite baking advertisement. These days, he even has his own website.

"Do-It-Together" Butter Cookies, 30 pages Contains cookie recipes and "decorating ideas." SI = 3

1966:

The Convenience Cookbook 69c original price, so probably 1966. refrigerated food recipes SI = 3

Pillsbury Busy Lady Bake-Off Recipes
This is actually Bake-Off #17; see below.

1967:
Time Saver Cookbook, 100 pages
79c original price; later used as a giveaway
SI = 1 or 2

1968:
Bake-Off Dessert CB, 144 pages.
No cover price; used as a premium
Reissued 1971.

Bake-Off Breads Cookbook
$3.95 original price

Bake-Off Main Dish Cookbook, 143 pages.
$3.95 original price

Bake-Off Cookie Book, 143 pages.
$3.95 original price; also used as a premium.

1969:
A Treasury of Bake-Off Favorites, 96 pages
Original price: 98c.

Sweet N Thin Cookbook, 64 pages
Original price: 98c.

Pillsbury's Meat CB, 80 pages
98c cover price.

Pillsbury's Soup & Salad CB, 80 pages
98c cover price

Pillsbury's Vegetable CB, 80 pages
98c cover price

Bake-Offs:

Plastic Advertising Token
from the first national Bake-Off

Pillsbury had hosted several bake-off contests of smaller scope before attempting to create the national event that would come to be synonymous with the Pillsbury name. According to information gathered from the Bake-Off booklets, the Grand National Bake-Off held on December 13, 1949, was intended to be a one time only event. Plastic tokens were issued advertising the October event in New York's famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, for which there was a tremendous turnout. Afterward, many people began to write to Pillsbury, asking that the recipes from the Bake-Off be published in a booklet. The event had been the first baking event of national scope, and the Bake-Off booklets wound up being Pillsbury's most popular cooking booklets.

All Bake-Off booklets have 96 interior pages unless specified.

1950, no cover price, formally titled 100 Prize-Winning Recipes 1951, 100 pages; 25c price begins 1952 1953; smaller size begins 1954, 98 pages 1955, 98 pages 1956 1957 1958 1959, 106 pages; larger size with binder holes begins 1960 1961 1962; 35c cover price begins 1963 1964 1965; 50c cover price begins 1966; no binder holes here on 1967; price covered with Pillsbury sticker (79c) 1968; 98c cover price begins 1969 1970 1971; $1.00 cover price 1972; 89c cover price begins 1973 1974 1975; 99c cover price 1976; 99c cover price 1978; $1.29 cover price 1980 1982, Classic #14 1984, Classic #38, 112 pages; $2.25 cover price 1986, Classic #62, 96 pages; $2.25 cover price 1988, Classic #86, 96 pages 1990, Classic #110, 104 pages; $2.50 cover price 1992, Classic #134, 1994, Classic #157, 104 pages; $2.75 cover price 1996, Classic #181, 124 pages 1998, Classic #205, 120 pages 2000, Classic #219, 116 pages

The 19th Bake-Off was the first Pillsbury contest to allow participants to bake using refrigerated bread dough and mixes; prior to that time, all recipes were done "from scratch."

NOTE about Scarcity: All of the Bake-Off booklets are common. The 1st booklet has SI = 3. The 8th - 12th booklets have SI = 2. The others have SI = 1. The first few booklets are more desirable than the later ones and therefore have higher values, despite their being relatively common.

Bibliography

Historical information published in The Story of Flour, Pillsbury, 1922, and The Story of a Pantry Shelf, Butterick Publishing, 1925, contributed to this article. Thanks also to Sue Erwin for her assistance and her faithful devotion to the cause of Pillsbury collecting.

A few words about Scarcity and Condition:

Scarcity

The Scarcity Index (SI) is an attempt to measure how common or how rare items are, relative to one another. A "1" rating indicates a very common item -- several copies of very common items can be found on eBay every week. A book rated "2" is estimated to exist in about half the quantity as a "1" book, and so on. Items rated "5" to "7" are considered "scarce." If you see a copy on eBay, another will likely not appear until a few months have passed. Items rated "8" or "9" are "rare": you may see one or two copies on eBay every year. Items rated "10" are "very rare."

Condition

The condition of a paper item greatly affects its value (and resale prospects). The most common conditions given for paper items are: fine (F or "near mint" NM): very good plus (VG+); very good (VG); very good minus (VG-); good (G); fair (fr); and poor (p).

Use the condition in connection with the Scarcity Index. Items with SI 1-5 are generally not collectible in conditions lower than VG (very good). This does not mean that people will never buy copies, but since the book is relatively common, buyers will want to obtain lower grade copies cheaply (a few bucks). On the Internet, most low grade common books sell for $5 or less. For books of slightly higher interest, VG copies sell for 1/4 to 1/3 of the Fine condition price. VG+ copies sell for 1/2 to 3/4 of the Fine price.

Items with SI 6 or 7 are normally collected in G (good) grade or higher, although some collectors will wait for better copies to surface. Good condition copies will sell (typically) for 1/10 to 1/6 what a Fine copy will bring.

Items that are rare or very rare will sell in almost any grade, although obviously higher grade copies will sell for much more. "Poor" condition normally means "not collectible no matter what," but if the book has some significance historically and is rare, even poor condition copies will sell.

All books from the late 60's on are assumed to be common in higher grades.