I have a complete set of Edinburgh signed edition Of Encyclopedia Britannica No "29" of 100 Sets in pristine condition. I would be happy if you could advise me how much is it worth as I am not able to find this anywhere on the Internet
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Your set was printed sometime between 1974 and 2011. I couldn't find anything about it's value, but maybe if you contact them, they might be able to tell you it's value. Go to: www.britannica.com/
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
I found this info about the 15th edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica on their website: Fifteenth Edition
Upon Hutchinss retirement in 1974, Adler succeeded him as chairman of the Board of Editors. Under the stewardship of Adler, Benton, and Charles E. Swanson (president of the company from 1967 to 1985), a vast editorial effort was assembled, resulting in the first publication of Britannica 3, or the 15th edition, in 1974. The new set consisted of 28 volumes in three parts serving different functions: the Micropædia: Ready Reference and Index, Macropædia: Knowledge in Depth, and Propædia: Outline of Knowledge. The articles in the Micropædia tended to be short, specific, and unsigned and were followed (until 1985) by index references to related content elsewhere in the set. The Micropædia also included brief summaries of the longer, broader Macropædia articles. The Propædia provided a topical guide to the encyclopaedia as well as information about the contributors. The 15th edition was given a global perspective by more than 4,000 contributing authors from more than 100 countries. The editorial creation of the work cost $32 million exclusive of printing costs, representing the largest single private investment in publishing history up to that time. Britannica 3s general editor was Warren E. Preece, and the executive editor was Philip W. Goetz.
Charles Swanson (left), president of Encyclopædia Britannica, inspecting the 15th edition of the encyclopaedia with William Benton, the publisher, and Robert Maynard Hutchins, chairman of the Board of Editors.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
A selection of notable contributors to the 15th edition is provided in the table.
Selected contributors to the 15th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (19742012)
author article(s)
Maurice Allais Customs Unions and Trade Agreements
Isaac Asimov Michelson, A.A.
Jacques Barzun European Culture Since 1800 in part; Flaubert, Gustave, in part; Poe, Edgar Allan, in part
David Ben-Gurion Herzl, Theodor
David P. Billington Public Works in part (1997)
Percy Williams Bridgman Physical Theories, Mathematical Aspects of, in part
Grateful thanks for this valuable input. I will be writing to then directly as advised by you. The information on their website so kindly reproduced by you is very useful as background information about the fifteenth edition.. However, I could not find any mention of this limited, special and signed 'Edinburgh' edition anywhere on their website.
As I said in my answer, there is no mention of this particular set anywhere that I can find. Not even on the Britannica web site or Wiki so it is kind of a mystery to me.
I have a workable link in my answer to contact Britannica but many sites will only send form letters in response.
I still think it is advisable to have this set appraised as just the regular 15th Edition sets are selling (not just listed for sale but selling) for decent money and not all of them are in pristine condition.
Please let us know what information you find.
This set seems to be rare as in difficult to find any of this particular edition listed for sale or sold but that does not actually mean it is rare enough to increase its value a significant amount over the other Edition 15 sets in the same condition. I do not know what year these were published and not really sure if there is anything about the set - other than only 100 sets published in this particular series.
It may be more valuable in other countries than the US.
You might try checking online asking prices for Edition 15 in the same year just to see what regular sets are selling for just to get an idea. Just remember, asking prices are just a price a seller would like to receive for their item but only a sold identical item shows value as it shows what someone was willing to pay for that item.
Here is a link to eBay's for sale listings of the 15th edition. You can always place a watch of any item to see if it sells.
www.ebay.com/
Here is a link to eBay's sold sets of the 15th Edition:
The sold listings prices range from $40 to $1,525 so you can see that different years, different condition and other factors make a difference.
None of these will be identical to yours but it does show that people are paying high prices for some of these sets but will yours be more valuable? Maybe, maybe not but since they are in excellent condition that is a good plus.
www.ebay.com/
Abe's books sell sets so you can check out their site but they do not show sold sets, only for sale sets.
It may be possible to contact them and ask about your set.
www.abebooks.com/
Britannica may answer some questions for you but they will not discuss value:
forms01.britannica.com/
I would suggest you try to get an appraisal just to be sure.
You can ask for a free appraisal but there are several good sites that only charge $20-$25.
Ask for retail as well as insurance value.
In general, encyclopedias under 100 years old have no value.
I believe "Edinburgh edition" means that it was printed and published in Edinburgh (not Dublin or London, for example). Several famous works by Scottish writers/poets are valued more for their Edinburgh edition because of perceived superior format and quality, inclusion of original notations, less editing (possibly preservation of Scottish points of views and cultural detail). Any numbered edition may also have a companion "Edinburgh edition". So, while I know little about the value of this set, it is very logical that being this special edition and having the signatures make it markedly more valuable.
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