I have a 25 plus set of the "Fine Arts Edition" of The Universal Standard Encyclopedia by Wilford Funk. 1956, 1957, 1958. I can find many sets, but not one like these. I would like to sell them, but I have no idea of their value since I cannot find this set. They are leather bound cream colored with s shield on the cover. There are marbled inside cover pages, front and back. The shield features a unicorn on top. 1 x 5 3/4 x 8 1/2. Joseph Laffan Morse. Standard Reference Works Publishing Company.
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Amazon is selling them from $35. www.amazon.com/
Sorry not even close to my set. Not leather, no insugnia. But thanks anyway.
Not even close to my set as pictured. Mine are leather with insignia and Art Edition. they are not cloth covered as the version you show.
I am looking to purchase universal standard encyclopedia fine arts edition complete set. How much could you sell them to me for? Please provide pictures.
This has me absolutely fascinated as I have been a huge fan of the FW products since I was a tot. When I was young, these held the world in them (to me) and as a budding writer, I poured over my various versions for hours. That and the dictionary (yes, I was a weird kid). Still am :)
So I contacted World Book who bought out FW years ago and asked them for info. Sadly, they don't keep archives...which I find so frustrating...these are supposed to be archives of the world and they don't archive their own history :( UGH!!!!!!! GO FIGURE!!!
What the gal I spoke to said is as follows (and I did not ask about value--I asked about history--but I guess they get a lot of value questions which is why she gave me their "stock" answer:
Thank you for your inquiry. Funk and Wagnalls was an Encyclopedia company that World Book bought some time ago - I am not sure of the exact year. Unfortunately, we do not have any value information on any of our older titles. To get accurate pricing for today, we would recommend checking with a secondhand or rare bookseller online to see if they can appraise it for you.
If you have someone local, I would contact them and ask. I truly have never seen an FW with real leather binding...so to me this is even more special...and the unicorn shield is extra ordinary...although I have it in my head that there was a whole book on unicorns associated with Funk or maybe the editor you mentioned. That is hazy in my old brain.
Perhaps you have very limited edition produced for something special...I don't know as most have boring covers that are Naugahyde (or other fake plasticy material).
I hope you will post back what you learn from a pro!! And I hope you have something of value!! I am so curious!! Thanks for sharing it!!
Here is some interesting information on Funk and Wagnalls from Wikipedia. It looks like World Book acquired them in 1991 but they had changed hands several times before that. Unicorn Press bought the rights to publish the encyclopedia and soon became Standard Reference Work Publishing Co, which is who published this addition.
en.wikipedia.org/
I did a little searching online and I couldn't find any encyclopedias that matched yours, although there are tons of similar sets available for sale. With the leather binding, it could have been a library edition rather than the supermarket editions that seem to be everywhere. I think your best bet is to take it to a bookseller that specializes in antique books
Pghgirl40 Well thank you for your detailed search. My city library has no clue. I see it says abridged edition. I wanted to add two more photos but cant figure out how to edit or add to my post.
You are most welcome. Thanks for the additional photos.
The mystery continues!! I am so wanting to solve this as this is not your "grocery store" edition! At least no grocery store one I ever saw.
Perhaps this site can help you: www.biblio.com/
My hubby asked them a question about something a few years ago and they were very kind.
Keep me in the loopy-de-loop!! Meanwhile I will keep digging!!
No Im aware of Biblio. No help.
Hi- Im curious if you were able to find out anything... I also have a 10+ set of these that I would like to sell but am unable to find them anywhere.
hi I have these too and can't find anything on them. Been searching for years.
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