Many homes had these reference books because they were readily available at the supermarket in the 1950s. Although dated, encyclopedias can sometimes be sold in niche markets to crafters and some collectors. This is a guide about finding the value of Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedias.
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I have a 25 volume of Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedia from 1912. They are small books (4x6). It is a complete set. How much are they worth?
I see a post on eBay that looks exactly like yours where someone is asking $189.00. If those are yours and you fetch that much, that will be today's market value.
I have never seen a set like this with the white and blue (sold or listed before) so this auction may set the current market value.
Post back how the sale goes!
Funk & Wagnalls was a lower end encyclopedia and for a couple of years you could get a free volume each week at some grocery stores and gas stations (Compton's Encyclopedias were also given away) when you spent a 'certain' amount of money.
I see that you have your set listed for sale on eBay for $189.00 plus $25 dollars for shipping. You also do not mention overall condition of books in your listing.
You show this as Priority Mail shipping but most sellers ship sets by media mail as it is much less expensive, especially since USPS changed how they charge for larger boxes.
www.ebay.com/
Many appraisers as well as researchers use sold listings on eBay to set current value but I did not find any set of Funk & Wagnalls that sold for over $60.
I did not find any sold set from 1912 but I could have missed one. A books age or even first edition does not always mean it is more valuable than later editions unless there is something extra special about the book/year.
www.ebay.com/
I did find something strange (at least strange to me) in that a seller has a 1912 set listed for sale on this site for $125:
And the same seller has the same set listed on eBay for $49.99.
Sets are listed for sale starting at $.01 and go to $500 so there is no way to even guess how these sellers have arrived at their asking prices but some sellers leave their listings up for years and maybe one day they sell??
Good luck with your set - it would be nice to see it sell for that amount.
This set is not the standard size. The prices online are for the full size books so these prices do not work for the books you are asking about. I see the full size books being sold for or should I say the asking price to sell them starts at $25 and goes up to around $200 for the books.
I was wondering if you had any idea how much a Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Standard Dictionary International Edition 1973 would be worth? I have the original box that it comes in and in mint condition.
Unless a dictionary is a signed original or over 100 years old, it is not worth more than $50.
Are you showing a 2 volume set?
Since you have the box and describe the set to be in 'mint' condition, I would venture to say the set may be worth slightly more than just the normal sets shown on eBay and other sites.
You should consider listing it at a higher starting price - perhaps $50-60 with free media mail shipping. Always list as 'best offers considered' just to see if anyone actually shows an interest.
You do not have to accept an offer but should consider each one.
If you do not have any offers the first month, you should consider lowering the price unless you are in no hurry to sell.
Books are typically very slow sellers but maybe you will be lucky and have a quick sale.
My work was giving these away. I'm wondering how much I should sell these for? I don't know how big the set is but I believe it goes up to 20 or 30 something.
Is this the 1968 set? If so, that set sells (sold prices, not asking) for about $25 on eBay. With Book Rate (US ONLY) shipping.
There is a misconception about encyclopedia sets having to be over 100 years old to be worth having/selling.
Of course, the brand of works makes a difference in the value of any set/book but there are several sets that still sell regularly and usually for several hundred dollars.
Example:
Encyclopedia Britannica 15 Edition published 1974+
www.ebay.com/
The set that you have is composed of 25 volumes but I'm not sure if the 25th volume is the index or?
There is no way (from your pictures) to tell for sure that it is the 1968-1969 edition as it appears they made several editions in the white cover. You can check the title page and see what year to look for.
I would say to start higher and lower the price if no one makes an offer.
Ship only with USPS media mail.
Interesting fact:
In 1973-1974 A&P grocery stores sold this set for $.49 each available each week so many people have parts of a set.
I have a set of 1993 Funk & Wagnalls American Eng Assiniboine Encyclopedias. They are in excellent condition. How much would they be worth?
What are these books worth and how could I go about selling them?
Are Funk-Wagnalls encyclopedias from 1959 worth anything?
By Diana
Unfortunately, these old encyclopedias do not sell at any price and most thrift stores will not even accept them as a donated item. It's very sad but they went to the wayside when the internet came around.
No. You will never find anyone to take them so just put them out for the trash. Sorry.
I have a 10 volume 1912 Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedia set. Does it have any value?
I have a set of 15, 1959-1965 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Reference Encyclopedias. What are they worth?
What is the value of a full 1979 set of Funk & Wagnalls encyclopedias including the dictionaries in perfect condition?
I have 2 sets of encyclopedias and I'm trying to find out how much they are worth. One is a Funk and Wagnalls' Universal Standard. It is a 25 volume set from 1954-55 the second one is a 12 volume Popular Mechanics do it yourself, 1st edition, from 1955. I am looking to get rid of them, but I don't want to cheat myself or anyone else. Thanks.
By B Sheftic
There is a 25 volume set of Funk & Wagnell's from 1959 selling on Ebay for $89.95. This could be a starting place for pricing your books.
I am sorry to say that your chances of selling these sets is probably zero. The information is outdated and they are not nearly old enough to be collectors items. Even if they were they wouldn't bring much. Librarys won't take them. I know because I tried to get rid of my parent's set. I put them in the trash. If you live in an area where this is allowed. put them in a box marked "free" and set them on your curb. If they are not gone in three days put them in the trash.
I had some 1932 encyclopedias that my mother used to teach with and when I tried to sell them in the 70's, I could not get anything out of them at all. It even showed the first tv in it. I hope you have better luck.
I have a full set of these books. I got them at an estate sale. How do I tell what year they were printed? Inside on the first page it says ISBN 0-8343-0025-7, Libary of Congress catalog card number 72-170933.
I have a complete set of 1975 Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedias. I was wondering if they are worth anything and how much.