New york resturant menu (1876)

I have this St Nicolas Hotel Menu from 1876... I don't know much about it, and can't find much. Is it valuable?

 

Mike, there's quite a lot online about the St Nicholas Hotel - it was quite famous in its day (gilded age NYC!)

I believe things like your menu are highly collectible across a number of areas of interest: the hotel itself, NYC, hotels in general, the Gilded Age, and more. Even "foodies" enjoy collecting old menus, and sometimes even attempting to replicate some of the dishes served.

Your photo is small and not terribly clear, so if you could improve on that, I imagine others will have more to say about values and the like.

Very cool item!

 

http://i.imgur.com/Qp1TbhY.jpg

 

Mike, I'm going to post it here, so other can see it better. (Many folks here will not click on links or thumbnails):

 

I'll start with the Mock Turtle, then move onto the Bass. I'll have a boiled capon, followed by a roast leg of mutton, cold lobster and foie-gras, breaded mutton cutlets, apple dumpling, and some of those newfangled 'popped corns' for dessert.

 

WHAT?
No Mexican food?????????????????

 

Bummer, no prices! I love to see prices on old menus

 

Judging by the stuff they have on this menu, if you have to ask for prices, you can't afford it.

 

My guess is that it was either a prix fixe menu, or this was a lady's menu, which wouldn't have had prices on it. (The gentleman's would have shown the prices.)

 

Why would that be?

 

Ladies of a certain class did not worry about how much things cost! (If a gentleman were hosting someone at an expensive restaurant, it was assumed that he could afford whatever the lady chose.)

 

Oh I see. How interesting

 

A women's escort always paid. Objective was not to worry her into always choosing the least expensive dishes. It was a habit that lingered well into the late 1970s.

Debora

 

So... If I were to post this on ebay then what would a good starting bid be?

 

I suggest you take a look at eBay closed listings and see what comparables sold for.

Here, for instance, is a 1890 menu from a Long Island hotel that started at $17.99 and reached $118. (Think yours will have more interest.)

http://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/132135327551?item=132135327551&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

I usually ask myself... What's the least amount I would accept for this item? Might be a helpful question for you. It's generally thought that lower opening bids generate more excitement but I don't think you'll find much price resistance for your menu. (I'd probably start it at $49.95 but others sure to have a different selling philosophy.)

Debora

 

Oh, so interesting. I am still trying to decide on what to order, but the chicken pot pie caught my eye.

 

when I & my folks had dinner in London with Hardy Amies in 1971.....only his menu had prices.......& I weren't no Lady !!!

 

It's the wine list that I would have focused on. Can you imagine? Priceless!

Debora

 

This was really interesting, everybody... thanks!