This extraordinary collection, a trove of enchanting designs, appealing colors, and forgotten motifs that stir the imagination, features an unprecedented assortment of ephemera, or paper collectibles, related to food. It includes images of postcards, match covers, menus, labels, posters, brochures, valentines, packaging, advertisements, and other materials from nineteenth- and twentieth-century America. Internationally acclaimed food historian William Woys Weaver takes us on a lively tour through this dazzling collection in which each piece tells a new story about food and the past. Packed with fascinating history, the volume is the first serious attempt to organize culinary ephemera into categories, making it useful for food lovers, collectors, designers, and curators alike. Much more than a catalog, "Culinary Ephemera" follows this paper trail to broader themes in American social history such as diet and health, alcoholic beverages, and Americans abroad. It is a collection that, as Weaver notes, will 'transport us into the vicarious worlds of dinners past, brushing elbows with the reality of another time, another place, another human condition'.

About the Author
William Woys Weaver is Director of the Keystone Center for the Study of Regional Foods and Food Tourism. He has written fourteen books, including Heirloom Vegetable Gardening and Pennsylvania Dutch Country Cooking, both of which received Julia Child awards. A contributing editor to Gourmet, Weaver has also served as Associate Editor and Art Editor for The Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. He has appeared on many national programs, including "Good Morning America" and NPR's "Fresh Air."

Reviews
"A food lover's print version of the Antiques Roadshow... Perfect for the foodie collector and history buff." Epicurious.com " The 352 color plates, accompanied by informed, diverting text [tell] us much about who we've been as well as what we've eaten ... and drunk." Wall Street Journal "What makes this book special is Weaver's careful, engaging contextualization of each piece, giving the reader a comprehensive understanding of how the ephemera fit into everyday life." STARRED REVIEW Library Journal "Every page has at least two or three stories you'll want to repeat over a good meal." John Mariani's Virtual Gourmet "Weaver provides insightful commentary." -- George M. Eberhart College & Research Libraries News "The artwork ... is a wonder to behold, filled with colorful examples of culinary imagination. The text is as fascinating as the pictures." Minneapolis Star Tribune "A lovely coffee-table book to open serendipitously, or a thoughtful reference for those who wish to dive in more deeply." -- Denise Ramzy Gastronomica


Awards
Winner of IACP Crystal Whisk Award (Culinary History) 2011.



Book Information
ISBN 9780520259775
Author William Weaver
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 998g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 203mm * 24mm