Books by year

Number of books published per year

 
The number of cookbooks published per year grew steadily during the 19th century and bounded upwards in the early 20th century. In the early 19th century, most families used collections of handwritten recipes, often handed down through generations and shared with neighbors and friends. The publishing industry in the United States expanded rapidly during the late 19th century and commercially produced cookbooks became widely available. The market for cookbooks continued to expand with many famous titles produced in multiple printings and editions. Community cookbooks (published by a church or charitable organization to raise funds) also increased in number after the Civil War. The growth of the packaged food industry led to the publication of cookbooks tied to commercial products (such as Crisco or Jell-O) in early 20th century.