{"product_id":"a-good-heart-and-a-light-hand-ruth-l-gaskins-collection-of-traditional-negro-recipes-rare-first-printing-1968-turnpike-press","title":"A Good Heart and a Light Hand: Ruth L. Gaskins’ Collection of Traditional Negro Recipes – Rare First Printing, 1968 (Turnpike Press, Virginia)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA GOOD HEART AND A LIGHT HAND\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRuth L. Gaskins\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrue First Printing — 1968\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eTurnpike Press, Annandale, Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Good Heart and a Light Hand: Ruth L. Gaskins’ Collection of Traditional Negro Recipes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Annandale, Virginia: The Turnpike Press, 1968. \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Printing\u003c\/strong\u003e (the self‑published community edition \u003cstrong\u003epreceding\u003c\/strong\u003e the Simon \u0026amp; Schuster commercial reprint issued later the same year). Original price \u003cstrong\u003e$3.00\u003c\/strong\u003e. Printed in the United States.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis landmark cookbook occupies a \u003cstrong\u003emajor place in American culinary history\u003c\/strong\u003e. It was \u003cstrong\u003ereviewed by the New York Times. \u003c\/strong\u003eCraig Claiborne praised it as \u003cem\u003e“far and away the best cookbook to deal with soul food.”\u003c\/em\u003e It is also formally documented in \u003cstrong\u003eToni Tipton‑Martin’s \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Jemima Code\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, the authoritative bibliography of African‑American cookbooks—an essential marker of cultural and scholarly significance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA remarkably fresh, \u003cstrong\u003eNear Fine\u003c\/strong\u003e example of the scarce community‑printed first edition, created as a fundraiser for the \u003cstrong\u003eFund for Alexandria, Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e to support projects benefiting the city’s Black citizens. Spiral‑bound in its original metal comb format, this edition preserves mid‑century African‑American foodways, family traditions, and the voices of home cooks across Alexandria.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Porge Buck | \u003cstrong\u003ePhotographs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Elsa S. Rosenthal | \u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Price:\u003c\/strong\u003e $3.00\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis copy is \u003cstrong\u003eclean, bright, and unmarked\u003c\/strong\u003e—no tears, no writing, no bookplate, and no ownership marks. A rare survival in exceptional condition and a cornerstone work in African‑American culinary history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpiral‑bound (metal comb) hardcover. \u003cstrong\u003eOctavo\u003c\/strong\u003e (approx. 6 × 8.75 inches). \u003cstrong\u003e110 pages\u003c\/strong\u003e, including index. Features black‑and‑white line drawings of Alexandria landmarks (churches, community buildings) by Porge Buck, and photographs by Elsa S. Rosenthal, including the rear‑cover portrait of Mrs. Johnnie Mae Knapper and Mrs. Revish Rice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompiled from recipes contributed by family, neighbors, and professional cooks in Alexandria, this important early soul‑food and African‑American community cookbook celebrates “the Negro Welcome” and the six foundational ingredients of traditional Negro cookery: \u003cstrong\u003emolasses, corn, greens, seafood, pork, and chicken\u003c\/strong\u003e. Recipes range from everyday dishes to large‑gathering quantities, including uncommon or older preparations noted throughout the text.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Turnpike Press, Virginia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48666207420553,"sku":"CH-0199","price":875.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/7519\/6809\/files\/PXL_20261013_190930985.jpg?v=1791919818","url":"https:\/\/chapterhearth.com\/products\/a-good-heart-and-a-light-hand-ruth-l-gaskins-collection-of-traditional-negro-recipes-rare-first-printing-1968-turnpike-press","provider":"Chapter \u0026 Hearth Booksellers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}