Finding the Value of World Book Encyclopedias?

Most old dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc., have very little value-a few dollars at most. You can check online for old book collectors, on Craigslist and other retail sites for possibilities. Everything is now online and updated constantly.

A lot of people see these on Ebay for $100 to $200 and get excited. But that's just the price they're listed at. That doesn't mean they actually sell for that. They don't.

Only a few years/sets of any brand of encyclopedias are valuable and most of those are newer sets. Older sets are many times even difficult to give away because they are difficult for even thrift stores to sell.

• A "set" with one book missing is even less valuable but some sellers do list them by single books for $8-$15. Most never sell.
• There is no era - only a last publishing date for the set.
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• Here are all of the encyclopedias listed on eBay (world Book) and Etsy (all brands). You can go through and see how they are listed and selling (this is all brands - not just World Book).
• www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_nkw=encyclopedia+world+book...
• www.etsy.com/.../encyclopedia_set
• Here is a set of 1948 World Book that sold in 2016.
• www.ebth.com/.../4743996-1948-the-world-book-encyclopedia...
• You might try listing your set on Craigslist so there would be no shipping costs.
• You can ask whatever price you wish and just reduce the price if no one shows an interest.

All the information contained in these books is old and outdated. The books are now online and updated all the time.

We get asked this question very regularly. Unfortunately, there are a glut of these types of encyclopedias. Unless they are very old or rare, they are pretty much impossible to sell. You might consider donating them to a school or retirement home as sometimes people use books for art or craft projects.

Good Luck.

Jess is right... I couldn't even sell a set of 1932 books I had at one time.

I don't think they have any real value in this new technical world. First of all, there would be many subjects that are missing new information. History would not be up to date. nor medicine, just to name a couple. And with computers in almost every home, the current information is available in an instant, no matter what the subject is. I had a set from 1973 at one time. I am so glad that I sold them as soon as my children were out of school. I kept the 2 volume dictionary, and still use it today, but so glad that I don't have the rest of the set packed away somewhere.

They have no value at all as encyclopedia. You may find someone who can give them to for some sort of craft. Some people carve into them and make sculptures out of such books. Some people use them as lamp bases. However, no one is going to pay for them. Advertise them to give away on Kijii or freecycle or something like that.

If you Google 2014 World Book Encyclopedia you will most likely find that asking prices run from $100 to $500 but you may not find what any of these actually sold for.

• The fact they are ex-library does reduce the value but if they are still in very good condition, then you may still be able to ask $100-$300.
• These sets are difficult to sell so do not expect any fast results no matter where you list them for sale.
• Since you are working with a non-profit you may want to try listing on your local Craigslist as anyone interested could see the books and there would be no shipping involved.
• If you list them, you could start your price higher ($450) and see if you receive any calls. If no interest is shown then you can reduce the price until they sell.
• Craigslist is easy to use and mostly free where other on-line sites may pose a stiff learning curve unless you are already listing other items.
• Here is a link to present listings on eBay that will give you an idea as to seller's asking prices. Bear in mind that many of these sellers will keep relisting their items for many, many months or even years.
• www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4840.m570...
• Here is a link to sets presently offered on Amazon.
• www.amazon.com/.../ref=tmm_hrd_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition... (Affiliate Link)
• The following link will show you sets that actually sold on eBay in the past few months.
• www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=2014...
• Here is link to the World Book web site that has a brand new 2014 set listed $299.
• www.worldbook.com/World-Book-Encyclopedia-2014

I listed the links so you can see that placing a value on a set like this is not an easy task as the true value is what someone will pay.
I hope you can realize a nice price as libraries are always in need of extra funds.

Antique and vintage items are only worth what people are prepared to pay. Your best bet is to see if anyone is selling, or even better, has sold, anything similar on Ebay. Your books are not really that old. I have antique books, including books that are about 200 years old that are no more valuable than any modern second hand book. It is possible that you may be lucky enough to have a rare book in your hands, but sadly unlikely. You need to go see a real expert in person

Those books are not old enough to have any great value. With the internet, info is so easy to get on any topic, which makes encyclopedias outdated and not worth much. Except maybe to someone who doesn't have access to the internet. Even so, the books have outdated info for the most part.

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.

Encyclopedia sets don't have much value. Usually nobody will buy them. Maybe your local recycling company would recycle them.

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.
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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.

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.