I've never tried it . but heard that it could.Those old books are special to say the least, especially when they wrote or glued cut out recipes in them. I got my Grandma's old cookbook when I was in junior high after she passed. I told Mom I wanted it & nabbed it before my cousin could. In high school, I found a mint condition one at a second hand store that said 1913 which would have been a few years after she & Grandpa married.
Just a thought, do you think a pan of water in the oven would add some moisture in the oven when a bird is roasting?