Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What is the value of a set of 1972 "The World Book" Encyclopedias? I have the entire 21 volume set, including 20 book volumes plus (1) 1972 Year Book.
Many people have old books they think are valuable and would like to sell. Most old dictionaries, references etc., have very little value, a few dollars at most. Encyclopedias dated after 1923 are essentially worthless but crafters may be interested for the old pictures. Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc., receive donations of tons of old encyclopedias, dictionaries and reference books but send them to recycling centers or dumps as they cannot use or sell them.
You can check online for old book collectors, on EBay, Craigs List and other retail sites for possibilities. Everything is now online and updated constantly so old books are just that-old.
thank you for the information
How can I get rid of or donate a like brand new set of encyclopedias I brought I believe in 1987. I also have the year in review beginning in 1988 to I believe 1995. It has some other sets that go with it.
They are basically new. My children never used it for school work only to look up information. Most volumes haven't even been opened.
I am curious. I have 1972 World Book encyclopedia collection of 228. I am wondering if there is any value. They are in great condition.
Unless an encyclopedia is antique (over 100 years old ) and complete it has little to no value.
I have an old set of World Book Encyclopedias copyright 1933. Can anyone tell me what it might be worth?
I also have an old set of McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology 7th edition 1992. Can anyone tell me what this might be worth also?
Many people have old books they think are valuable and would like to sell. Most old dictionaries, references etc., have very little value, a few dollars at most. Encyclopedias dated after 1923 are essentially worthless but crafters may be interested for the old pictures. Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc., receive donations of tons of old encyclopedias, dictionaries and reference books but send them to recycling centers or dumps as they cannot use or sell them.
Your set of McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology - 7th edition - 1992 is probably worth more than other types of old sets of books but the condition always counts toward actual value.
Here is a link to a set presently for sale so you can get a general idea as to value:
Your set of World Book Encyclopedia set, if in excellent condition, might sell for $50 -100 dollars but it may take a year of listing on eBay to sell the set. Sets are usually very slow sellers (but not always) and they are very difficult to ship.
Here is a link to the sets currently listed on eBay and the second link is what some sets actually sold for in recent months.
www.ebay.com/
www.ebay.com/
Most encyclopedias are not worth much because information is available on the internet. If it would be worth anything, it would have to be a complete set. The book from 1992 is probably worth nothing.
How much would a 1929 World Book Encyclopedia set be worth? It is a 10 book set in excellent condition.
Many people have old books they think are valuable and would like to sell. Most old dictionaries, references etc., have very little value, a few dollars at most. Encyclopedias dated after 1923 are essentially worthless but crafters may be interested for the old pictures. Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc., receive donations of tons of old encyclopedias, dictionaries and reference books but send them to recycling centers or dumps as they cannot use or sell them.
You can check online for old book collectors, on EBay, Craigs List and other retail sites for possibilities. Everything is now online and updated constantly so old books are just that-old.
Im interested... they may be worthless to some people but I still think they are nice & would like to put on my shelf to use
I have a set I would love to sell. Like new. If interested contact me at email below.
I have a set of volume 1 through 4 mechanical encyclopedias from 1897 but I am interested in selling if anybody is interested in pictures My eml is babyglove at the yahoo. I'm not sure if we are able to write out an email or not so I had put it that way
What is the value of complete set of 1977 World Book Encyclopedias?
By Tammy
Many people have old books they think are important and want to sell. Most old dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc., have little value - a few dollars at most.
It is not worth the shipping to send it to someone. Libraries won't take them anymore. Sometimes papercrafters use the pictures for crafts. See if you know anyone who does this.
I have a full set of World Book Encyclopedias, copyright 1979. They are in excellent condition. How much would they sell for and where can I sell them?
I also have a full set of Young Students Encyclopedias, copyright 1977. These are showing a bit of yellowing from age, but otherwise are in good condition. How much would they sell for and where can I sell them?
By jenj
Your best bet is to recycle them. No one can sell, give away, donate or dump-and-run a set of encyclopedias these days.
Sorry...with the unlimited knowledge available on the internet, they're nothing but a 'door stop'... recycle.
Since questions about the value of various sets of encyclopedias are appearing on this website every single day, the obvious answer is that they are worth nothing for selling purposes, since obviously most people don't want them anymore!
If you have a set in good condition, why not keep it? Most of the information is still accurate, such as the articles on art, history, biographical information, etc. You can always go online for updated information and the latest information in the sciences, sports, etc. In addition, encyclopedias have wonderful illustrations and photos. They will never be totally useless.
I have no desire to "get rid of" my World Book set, even though it's from 1960, or the Americana set from 1988 that I bought used from the library I worked for. I still use them pretty often. I'd like to replace the 1951 Britannica set we lost to water damage, along with the bookcase that came with it, but I would only take it off someone's hands, never pay for it.
You can't sell them. No one wants then fir the "knowledge" that is in them. You might be able to give them to someone for arts or crafts projects. People make lamps out of them. Some sculptors carve into them. Schools do projects called "altered books". You can't donate them to charities like Salvation Army either.
I have a 1961 set of the World Book encyclopedias with the blue hardcover. Do these encyclopedias have any value?
I have a full set of the World Book Encyclopedia including atlas. I'm looking to know the value.
I am trying to find the value of a 1953 set of World Book encyclopedias. It is a full set including Reading and Study guide.
I am trying to find out the value of a complete set of the 1938 World Book Encyclopedia.
They are not antiques. In addition, encyclopedias aren't worth much.
Many people have old books they think are valuable and would like to sell. Most old dictionaries, references etc., have very little value, a few dollars at most. Encyclopedias dated after 1923 are essentially worthless but crafters may be interested for the old pictures. Libraries, Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc., receive donations of tons of old encyclopedias, dictionaries and reference books but send them to recycling centers or dumps as they cannot use or sell them.
You can check online for old book collectors, on EBay, Craigs List and other retail sites for possibilities. Everything is now online and updated constantly so old books are just that-old.
Sad but most encyclopedias are not very valuable but they do still sell sometimes. Sellers on eBay and Etsy still list sets but they may have to keep them posted for weeks, months or even years and may not ever sell them. Most sellers list them as "pick up only" because they are very difficult to ship and also the cost of shipping only adds to the price a buyer has to pay and adds nothing for the seller. If you are interested in selling then I would recommend listing on Craigslist or any other local sale site.
Are you sure your set is actually from 1938? Many people get confused over the dates shown in the front of the volumes. Here is a photo of a set that sold a while back that is authentic 1938 so take a look and see if your set looks like this. If your set is 1938 then you may be able to sell it for $50 - 100 dollars but it may take a long time to sell.
www.etsy.com/
Here are some sets that recently sold on eBay for different years but it may give you some ideas about selling.
www.ebay.com/
I have a set of The World Book - ten volumes with book stand 1917-1918-1919
Hanson-Bellows Publishing. Issued 1920. M V O'shea-Ellsworth Foster
I have a set of the 1983 edition of the World Book encyclopedia. It is a set of 22 volumes and 1 set of the World Book Dictionary (2 volumes).
I'm trying to find out their value. They are in great condition.
What would be the value of a 1972 set of World Book encyclopedias?
I have a complete ten volume 1923 set of The World Book encyclopedia. Does it have any monetary value?
I would like to know how much and where to sell my set of the 1960 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia.
Many people have old books they think are valuable and would like to sell. Most old dictionaries, references etc., have very little value-a few dollars at most. Encyclopedias dated after 1923 are essentially worthless but crafters may be interested for the old pictures. Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc., receive donations of tons of old encyclopedias but send them to recycling centers or dumps as they cannot use or sell them.
You can check online for old book collectors, on EBay, Craigslist and other retail sites for possibilities. Everything is now online and updated constantly so old books are just that-old.
I have a set of the World Book encyclopedia, isbn 0-7166-0077-3. Mine is a set of 18, as I am missing books 1, 10, 13, and 20.
By Ricky from Columbia SC
What is the value of 1983 World Book Encyclopedia set?
By Laura D.
What is the value of the World Book Encyclopedia, version 1972?
By Paula G.
How much is the value of 1965 copyright World Book encyclopedia set, in good condition?
By Kristl
Unfortunately, thanks to the internet, encyclopedia sets have virtually no resale value. Maybe you could sell it at a garage sale? Good luck.
The previous poster is correct. There is almost no use for them and charities and libraries won't take them either. You may find someone you can give them to that may want them for some sort of craft project. Altered books are one type of craft/art project that people would use them for. I have also seen lamps made from books.
I have a 1920 set of World Book encyclopedias in good condition. What would they be worth?
We have a beautifully printed set of World Book Encyclopedia from 1922. To think these were printed before WW2 and men walking on the moon is mind blowing to me.
Are they worth anything?
