Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
This is the classic 4th Edition paperback copy of 'Putting Food By', long considered the definitive American bible on home food preservation. Written by Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, and Beatrice Vaughan, it covers canning, freezing, pickling, and drying with rigorous scientific accuracy.
Story
First published in 1973, this book defined the back-to-the-land homesteading movement. It updated traditional domestic arts with modern USDA food-safety standards. It remains a beloved kitchen staple across North America.
Maker / Origin
Janet Greene was Editor-in-Chief of The Stephen Greene Press in Vermont when she co-authored the text alongside home economists Ruth Hertzberg and Beatrice Vaughan. Together, they bridged rustic New England foodways with modern safety science.
Condition & Value
Good used vintage condition. Visible shelf wear and slight curling at the cover corners, along with an old thrift price sticker on the back cover. Value is typical for an uncommemorative trade paperback. Widely printed paperback in vintage used condition.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.