New Zealand's Early Cookery Books: A Catalogue to 1922

This is a working document. The intention is to develop a complete bibliographic catalogue of New Zealand’s Cookery Books. The entries are arranged chronologically and will be added to by decade. If you have, or know of, a cookery book that appears to be missing from this list (and within the range of dates entered) or if you believe there are errors in the catalogue, please let us know.

What is a cookery book? For the purposes of our database we include any book printed in New Zealand with at least 5 or more culinary recipes - the 1849 He Rongoa Witi is the only exception.

Although most of our cookery books were published and printed in New Zealand, some were published first overseas and then reprinted in New Zealand. Some were published and printed overseas then rebound in New Zealand for local distribution (e.g. Cassell’s Shilling Cookery was rebound as “DIC Shilling Cookery”). Any cookery book with an association with New Zealand will be included in the database.

The simple bibliographic description that follows includes the date, author, place of publication, title. Information has been taken from library catalogues, books on culinary history and from private collections. In some instances, where information is difficult to verify, the date or book title may be inaccurate. At present the catalogue is simply a list of books that are thought to have been printed. Further details of these books may be obtained using the CONTACT page.

Dating:

Many New Zealand cookery books are not dated. Approximate dating can often be inferred however from printer’s job numbers, advertisements and occasionally from annotations made by a previous owner.

In the following list, the year of publication is given if that year is printed on the title page, or within the text. A year followed by “c” (e.g. “1925c”), is used if the date is not known with certainty but is likely to fall within 5 years of the estimate.

Some books have illustrated covers suggesting a date different from that in which they were published. A very common example is Elsie Harvey’s “Peace” cookery book. The cover illustration is of a soldier dressed in first world war uniform, but the book was printed in the 1940’s.

Title:

Some cookery books have a cover but no title page, others are known only from library catalogues, or citations in published texts. Where possible therefore the title page is used to derive the book’s title, and where this is unavailable the cover title or library catalogue entry. Some cookery books are known only from a fragmentary copy (or even a single page) and for these, where title page and cover are missing, the title is noted as [unknown].

1849 - 1899

Year / Author  / Title / Place

1849   Unknown:      He Rongoa Witi. ["Recipes for dressing wheat, making yeast, and curing bacon"]. College of St. John the Evangelist Press [Auckland]. 1 folded sheet, 18cm.

1869    Martin, Lady Mary Anne [?]   Pukapuka whakaatu tikanga mo nga rongoa mo nga kai.  [Printed by Henry Hill at St Stephen’s College, Parnell, Auckland]

1881    Hopkins, Isaac:      The illustrated New Zealand bee manual : giving full instructions for the humane and profitable management of the honey bee : also bee-keepers’ axioms, honey recipes, and bee-keepers’ calendar of operations making a complete handbook to modern bee-culture. [Thames]

1883    Leys, Thompson W:      Brett’s Colonists Guide and Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge               

1887 or earlier    [Mrs F Murdoch refers to a previous cookery book in the preface to her 1887 “Dainties; or How to Please our Lords and Masters”]

1887    Murdoch, F:   Dainties; or How to Please our Lords and Masters: [1st edition, Napier]     

1887c   Economic Cooking Lessons (1st edition) [Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Dunedin]

1888c   Economic Cooking Lessons (2nd edition) [Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Dunedin]

1888    Murdoch, F:      Dainties; or How to Please our Lords and Masters: [2nd edition, Napier]

1889    Broad, Isobel L.M.:     New Zealand Exhibition Cookery Book: [Nelson]

1889    Economic Cooking Lessons (3rd edition)  [ Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Dunedin]

1890    [Anon]:     Old Colonists Practical Housekeeping Guide  [W&T, Christchurch] [A 2nd edition is thought to have been

  published c1893]

1890    Miller, Elizabeth B:     Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition, and under the auspices of the technical classes association: [1st edition, Dunedin]

1891c   Economic Cooking Lessons (4th edition) [Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Dunedin]

1891    Carter C.G.:     New Zealand Cookery Book and Household Guide: [Tauranga]

1892    [Comp]:  The Home Cook Book. [90th edition. Canadian cookery book distributed in New Zealand by Clara Pinney Yerex, Wellington]

1893    [Anon]:     Henry H Tippler’s Cookery Guide: [Wellington]         

1893    Miller, Elizabeth B:      Improved Economic Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition and the Technical Classes: [1st edition: Dunedin]  

1893    Wardrop, Ada:     Handbook of Practical Cookery.   [Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch]                                                            

1894    Miller, Elizabeth B:      Improved Economic Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition and the Technical Classes: [2nd edition: Dunedin]

1894 [? George Martin]:     The Very Book [ which contains a number of cooking recipes, and a large amount of useful information. Thames Star, 31 January 1894.]

1895     Domestic Cookery; specially prepared for the School of Domestic Instruction [...] and Girl’s High School, Christchurch. [H.J. Weeks, ChCh].

1895    Gough, Harriet.      Handbook of Practical Cookery [McKee and Gamble, Wellington]

1895    Calman, George:     New Cookery Guide, [reviewed in a local newspaper 4th November, 1895, Wanganui]

1897    Miller, Elizabeth B:      Improved Economic Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition and the Technical Classes: [3rd edition: Dunedin]

1897    Leys, Thompson W:     Brett’s Colonist’s Guide and Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge                 

1898    Miller, Elizabeth B:     Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition, and  under the auspices of the technical classes association: [4th edition, Dunedin]

1899    Miller, Elizabeth B:     Improved Economic Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition and the Technical Classes: [Dunedin] Fourth edition

1900 - 1909

1900     The New Cookery Book for 1900: A Boon to the Household. Preface by Mrs Mathieson. Free give-away from the shop of Mr R Snodgrass. Reviewed January 1900 by the Marlborough Express.

1900c    Payne A.G.:     DIC Shilling Cookery. [New Zealand Binding of Cassell’s Shilling Cookery]

1900      Miller, Elizabeth B:      Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition, and under the auspices of the technical classes association: [5th edition, Dunedin]

1901      Miller, Elizabeth B:     Improved Economic Cookery Book: Lessons given at the Dunedin Exhibition and the Technical Classes: [5th edition: Dunedin]

1902      Reliable recipes : Empire Bazaar, Easter, 1902: [Auckland]

1902c    Coronation Cookery Book: [1st edition, Hawera Presbyterian Church]

1902      Colonial Everyday Cookery: [1st edition, W&T, Christchurch]  [Known with red paper (1/-), olive green paper (1/-) and beige washable (1/6) covers]

1902      Queen Alexandra Cookery Book. [September 1902. Wanganui. Primitive Methodist Ladies Sewing Guild]

1902      The New Century Cookery Book [November? 1902. Wanganui. Ladies of the Trinity Wesleyan Church]

1903c    Miller, E.B. and Miller J Archer : New Zealand School Cookery Book [Dunedin]  

1903      Souvenir of St Paul’s Jubilee Fete : [Papanui, St Paul’s Anglican Church]

1903c    Miller, E.B. and Miller J Archer:       Elementary Cookery Book [W&T, Christchurch]

1903c   The Kia-Ora cookery book of tried recipes: [The Victoria School for Maori Girls' Bazaar, Epsom Stall. Auckland]

1904      Coronation Cookery Book: [2nd edition, Hawera Presbyterian Church]

1904     West, Mrs J:     Our own cookery book  [Ashurst Town Bazaar]

1904     Miller, E.B.:     Economic Technical Cookery [1st edition: Dunedin]

1905      The People's Household Guide; a handy book of reference for the preservation of health: also treatment of horses, dogs and birds, and complete economic cookery book. [Wellington]

1905      The Onslow Cookery Book [Wellington]

1905      Ukneadit [Wellington]

1905      St Andrew’s Cookery Book [1st edition, Dunedin]

1905      Corrie, S:     Art of Canning and Bottling Fruit

1905c    Cookery Book and Household Management [New Zealand binding by the Dunedin company Scoullar and Chisholm of the American “White House Cookery Book”. A Christchurch firm also rebound the book for promotional purposes.]

1905c     Defiance Cookery Recipes

1905c     Harman, R.D & Gard’ner: Domestic Cookery [4th edition, Christchurch]

1906       Hinemoa Cookery Book [Wellington, Primitive Methodist Church. Two varieties of cover are known, one noting that proceeds would be donated to the Dundas St, Sunday School, Dunedin and the other to the Wellington PM Church]

1906?     The Taranaki Magic Cookery & Recipe Book. [Wesleyan Methodist Parsonage Fund. New Plymouth]

1906?     Gill, Mrs P:     New Zealand International Cookery Book (1st edition)

1906       Tetakakai: A Book of well-tested recipes [Napier Rowing Club]

1906       Miller, E.B.:      Economic Technical Cookery [4th edition: Dunedin]     

1907      Newton, Jessie: Successful recipes: In aid of Unitarian Building Fund. [Wellington]

1907      St Andrews Cookery Book [2nd edition, Dunedin]

1907?     The new cookery book for 1908. Oamaru

1908      Sure to Rise Cookery Book [1st edition, Edmonds, Christchurch]

1908      300 Choice Recipes; Souvenir of All Nations Fair [Gisborne]

1908?    The new cookery book : for 1909 [Dunedin]

1909      Sure to Rise Cookery Book [Given as 1st edition, this is a second printing of the 1908 1st edition, [Edmonds, Christchurch]

1909      Legg, J.C.      The Handy Helper; a treatise on cooking and baking [New Plymouth, printed in Hastings]

1909      St Stephen’s Cookery Book [Reefton]

1910 - 1922

1910     Miller, Elizabeth B:     Economic Technical Cookery Book [8th edition, Dunedin]

1910     Edmond’s Sure to Rise Cookery Book [2nd edition, Christchurch]

1910c   Gill, Mrs Patrick:      New Zealand International Cookery Book [3rd edition]                      

1910c    Beaton, Mrs J :     The Universal Cookery Book [1st edition, Dunedin]

1910c    Beaton, Mrs J:     The Universal Cookery Book [2nd edition, Dunedin]

1910c  The New Cookery book; for 1910 [Dunedin]

1911    Tendall, Mabel:     Kirkaldie and Stains’ Cookery Book [Wellington]

1911    St Andrew’s Cookery Book [5th edition, Dunedin

1911     Miller, Elizabeth B:     Economic Technical Cookery Book [9th edition, Dunedin]

1911c    Gard’ner E:     Recipes for use in School Cookery Classes [Christchurch]

1911c    Gill, Mrs Patrick:     New Zealand International Cookery Book [4th edition]

1912     Householder’s Annual and Directory. Wellington edition [Wellington]

1912     Colonial Everyday Cookery [6th edition, Christchurch]

1912    Miller, Charles C:     Food Value of Honey; Why it should be eaten; Honey cooking recipes [Wellington]

1912    Miller, Elizabeth B:     Economic Technical Cookery Book [10th edition, Dunedin]

1912    Wardrop, A :     Handbook of Practical Cookery*

1912   Whittaker, A:     The Practical Cookery Book*

1912    Everyday Cookery [Havelock North]

1912    Colonial Everyday Cookery [6th edition, 70th thousand, Christchurch]

1913     St Andrew’s Cookery Book [6th edition, Dunedin]

1913    Westport Cookery Book [Westport]

1913    Manawatu County Cookery Book [1st edition, Palmerston North]

1913    Beaver Brand Cookery Book

1913c  Colonial Everyday Cookery Book [6th edition, Dunedin]

1913     St Andrew’s Cookery Book [6th edition, Dunedin]

1913c   Economic Technical Cookery Book [11th edition, Dunedin]

1914     Edmond’s Sure to Rise Cookery Book [3rd edition, Christchurch]

1914     Highlander Economical Cookery Book [1st edition, Invercargill]

1914     Trinity Jubilee Fancy Fair [1st edition, Timaru]

1914    St Andrew’s Cookery Book [6th edition, Dunedin]       

1914     Economic Technical Cookery Book [12th edition, Dunedin]  

1914c   Harman RD, Garden’er E:     Domestic Cookery [5th edition, Christchurch]     

1914c   Harman RD, Garden’er E:     Domestic Cookery [6th edition, Christchurch]

1915     Our Boy’s Cookery Book [comp. Feilding, Pub. Wellington]

1915     The Girl’s own cookery Book. Masterton ladies in aid of the Belgian fund. Reviewed Wairarapa Daily  Times, 3 March 1915.

1915     Thomson, Jessie:     Amuri Cookery Book [Christchurch]

1915     Renwick, Margaret L.:     Primary School Cookery Book [Auckland]

1915     South Auckland Queen Cookery Book [Hamilton]

1915    St Andrew’s Cookery Book [7th edition, Dunedin]

1915    McCready, Nellie.:     The Bungalow Recipe Book [Gisborne]

1915     Princess Cookery Book [Invercargill]

1915?   Tried Recipes of Home Made Candies [Wellington]

1915c   Recipes for apple cooking [Wellington]

1915c   Colonial Everyday Cookery [10th edition, 160th thousand, Christchurch]

1915c    St John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Society’s Cookery Book

1915c    [Unknown fragment pp3-60].  [Wanganui advertisements. “In aid of wounded soldiers”]

1915c   Carter, Una:     National Cookery Book [Wellington]

1915c   Colonial Everyday Cookery [10th edition, 180th thousand, Christchurch]

1916     Tried recipes [1st edition, Victoria League, Auckland]

1916    Miller, Elizabeth B:      Economic Technical Cookery Book [13th edition, Dunedin]  

1916    Southland Red Cross Cookery Book [Invercargill]

1916   Red Cross Cookery Book [Dunedin]

1916c  Carter, Una:     Home made sweets recipes [Wellington]

1917    Town and Country Patriotic Women Worker’s Cookery Book [Palmerston North]

1917    Southern Cross Domestic Science containing three year courses in cookery, housewifery and laundry work.

1917    Tried Recipes of Home Made Candies [Wellington]

1917    Miller, Elizabeth B.:     Economic Technical Cookery Book [14th edition, Dunedin]

1917    The C.C.C. Cookery Book [Wanganui]

1917    Evans, Mrs G. L.:      The ‘Balloon’ Baking Book [Auckland]

1917c  St Andrew’s Cookery Book [8th edition, Dunedin]

1917c  Trinity Jubilee Fancy Fair [2nd edition, Timaru]

1918    Nathan, Sybil:     Red Cross Cookery Book of tried recipes [Wellington]

1918    Tried recipes [2nd edition, Victoria League, Auckland]

1918    Carter, Una.:     National Cookery Book [2nd edition, Christchurch]

1919    Trinity Jubilee Fancy Fair [3rd edition, Timaru]

1920    Hawera Methodist Church Cookery Book

1920    Mrs J Beaton.:     Universal Cookery Book. Dunedin [3rd edn]

1921    South Auckland Queen Cookery Book. Hamilton [2nd edn]

1921   Harman R.D.:     Domestic Cookery. [7th edn]

1921    St Andrew’s Cookery Book. Dunedin [9th edn]

1922   Turner, M.S.:     Highlander Economical Cookery Book. Invercargill [2nd edn.]

1922   St George Cookery Book. Dunedin [1st edn]

1922   Colonial Everyday Cookery. Christhcurch. 10th edn, 212th thousand.