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.
• 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All the information contained in these books is old and outdated.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.

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.
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• www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4840...
• Here is a link to sets presently offered on Amazon.
• www.amazon.com/.../ref=tmm_hrd_used_olp_sr?tag=thrif06...
• 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&...
• 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.

Sad to say, these encyclopedias are worth very little. You would be better of donating them and taking the tax deduction.

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.

Most encyclopedias have very little value - even really old volumes so most likely yours would be of insignificant value.

You may be able to find some information on eBay even old sets are very hard to sell and a single volume even more so.

You can research with Google and eBay and you may be lucky enough to have a jewel - wouldn't that be nice??

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.

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.
Harlean from Arkansas

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.

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.