I've been reading most of your post concerning Britannica and I see they're not worth much. However, I was wondering in Vol 15 full set with The Annal of America is worth anything? I am just curious. The set is in pristine condition, just a little dust.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
If it is over 100 years old it would have some value.
The 15th Edition happens to be of value as they are still selling.
The value would depend on which year you have as the 15th Edition was published 197494 in a variety of different covers/bindings and of course the condition.
I cannot find that people are really more interested in one year over another (of the 15th Edition) but you can check some of this out for yourself.
Shipping is expensive and some sellers are stating 'local pick up only' so location would also determine value.
You can check out the present listings on eBay and see if you can locate a set comparable to yours (year, binding, condition) and place a 'watch' on it to see if it sells. You do have to realize that asking prices are not value prices but just an amount that a seller thinks their set is worth (many times considered a 'dream' price).
www.ebay.com/
www.ebay.com/
www.amazon.com/
You can sometimes refer to eBay sold listings to see if any set comparable to yours has been sold and if so that would give you some idea of what people are willing to pay at the present time. This list changes so you can check it often.
www.ebay.com/
The easiest way to sell a set is listing on several local sites; such as Craigslist, USA4Sale, LetGo, OfferUp, Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace as these you can specify 'pick up only' and no shipping involved.
To have successful listings (anywhere) you need several very good pictures, at least 3 or 4 closeup pictures of binding, front page showing edition/year information, as well as pictures of full set, front and side.
With these listing sites you can start your price as high as you like ($500?) and leave it for several weeks. If no interest then lower it to $400 and wait again. The final price will be up to you but I believe you can make some money on this set.
Be sure to remove your ad from all sites if your set sells.
Good luck.
Here is a link to history of editions:
Where there is a slight resurgence in interest to some encyclopedias is that there is a huge interest in junk journal and collage making among artists who use paper as their media.
Some artists are willing to pay more for encyclopedias that have full page pictures or lots of really neat-o black and white sketches.
The best way to find the value, as cybergrannie said, is to match your exact set to the SOLD section of eBay (never us asking prices--people think their things are worth much more than someone is actually going to pay).
Be sure to match your exact set to a sold set--using comparable (OR LIKE items) in this case is NOT helpful since most people who want encyclopedias are looking for something quite specific--so you need to do an exact apples to apples match between yours and the solds to know the value of yours. You didn't post any photos so I can't give you a today's market value of your exact set.
If you are on Instagram, you can "follow" some junk journalers and find some #junkjournal sites (there are dozens and dozens of fun sites on Insta) and you can try to sell them through that venue as that is going to be a big chunk of the audience.
Be sure to use Media Mail when shipping or better yet, use local pick up. If you do local SAFETY FIRST!!! Never allow a stranger to come to your home unless you have someone with you and NEVER meet in a place where you are not familiar. Busy places like a library or a grocery store or best option, your local police or fire station is the best place for meetings!
Post back with an update on your sale!
PS, our local Center for Creative Reuse just started taking encyclopedias again (in Pittsburgh). They had NOT taken them for years. Most Goodwills and Salvation Army stores DO NOT take them because there are so many out there. Be sure to ask before hauling them somewhere to donate so you don't get stuck with them.
If you have a paper artist group in your town where you can donate them, you may be (if you are in the US and eligible) be able to take the tax write off on the donation.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
