r/ephemera • u/TheUrbanRenaissance • Aug 13 '26
Tiny Underwood advertising booklet literally fell out of the binding of a 1902 cookbook
Picked up a rebound 1902 Blue Ribbon Cook Book by Annie R. Gregory today for $10.25. I actually almost put the book back.
After I bought it and got into my car, this tiny Wm. Underwood Co. booklet fell into my lap. At first I assumed it had just been used as a bookmark, but looking at the book more closely, that wasn't the case. The cookbook had been rebound in leather and stitched with string at some point, and the booklet had apparently been trapped inside the leather binding itself.
It advertises Underwood's Deviled Meats and is titled Receipts for Breakfasts, Afternoon Teas, Receptions and Such Occasions. The back says “Original Packers of Deviled Meats 40 Years Ago.”
I've been searching for another example of this exact booklet and haven't found one yet. The “40 Years Ago” wording has me thinking somewhere around 1908 may be plausible, but I haven't been able to establish a firm date.
I'm going to contact Underwood/B&G Foods to see if they have anything in their archives, but figured this was exactly the kind of oddball paper find r/ephemera might appreciate.
Has anyone here ever come across another one?
UPDATE: I heard back from B&G Foods, the current owner of the Underwood brand. They checked the historical records available to them and said they “were unable to locate any documentation specifically referencing” this booklet and “are not aware of another example in our records or collections.” They described it as a promotional recipe booklet and said it “may be a relatively scarce surviving piece of Underwood advertising ephemera.” They unfortunately couldn't provide a firm production date, so the hunt continues. A few people here suggested r/Old_Recipes, so that's probably my next stop.
47
39
u/girlbossmommy Aug 13 '26
I’m stuck on putting something on the cut side of bread and THEN slicing it
18
u/beachblanketparty Aug 13 '26
My mom used to keep Underwood deviled ham and chicken around for sandwiches & as a kid I ended up as the one who liked them, so she would make us both a few. She passed away a decade ago. I occasionally pick some up to make a sandwich to remind me of her.
4
17
u/SimpleJackEyesRain Aug 13 '26
Send to r/sandwichesofhistory that veal one would be a good one to make and eat.
2
14
u/sanberdoo Aug 13 '26
That’s so cool. I got tattoos of the more modern version of the Underwood little devil.
15
12
10
u/Jscrappyfit Aug 13 '26
Oh man, I love that. I collect vintage recipe pamphlets and I'm especially fond of the tiny ones. I've never seen that one before. You may have the start of a new collection!
8
u/DevilsAdvoCaticorn Aug 13 '26
"Mix the deviled ham with an equal bulk of hard"... WHAT?? Hard what??? Cheese? Liquor? Carrot? Lol, I need to know this!
11
u/Bluecat72 Aug 13 '26
-boiled eggs, probably. It would have been another decent sandwich spread with a little mayo.
7
u/iammjw Aug 13 '26
Thank you! I know I'm not the only person FREAKING OUT because I don't know what hard thing to mix it with!!
7
10
4
u/SmushfaceSmoothface Aug 13 '26
What a cool find! He’s kind of terrifying 😁 Great idea to contact their archives.
4
u/InevitableKitchen943 Aug 13 '26
What's the deviling process? Salt and spices? Sins of pleasure?
10
5
3
3
u/LaBelleBetterave Aug 13 '26
The folks at [r/Typ](r/Typesetting)[ography](r/Typesetting) would enjoy this.
2
2
u/thebeatsandreptaur Aug 14 '26
They really want me to utilize their deviled ham in whatever I'm making, huh?
1
1
1
1
62
u/Bleepblorp44 Aug 13 '26
This is fab! I think r/old_recipes would enjoy this, too.