Encyclopedia Britannica (2024)

FAQs

Does the Encyclopedia Britannica still exist? ›

The encyclopaedia is maintained by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 contributors. The 2010 version of the 15th edition, which spans 32 volumes and 32,640 pages, was the last printed edition. Since 2016, it has been published exclusively as an online encyclopaedia.

Britannica's content is among the most trusted in the world.

The Encyclopedia Britannica contains carefully edited articles on all major topics. It fits the ideal purpose of a reference work as a place to get started, or to refer back to as you read and write. The articles in Britannica are written by expert authors who are both identifiable and credible.

The Internet has rendered vintage encyclopedias obsolete and today the value is primarily from people looking to have a set similar to the one that they grew up with. A complete 1967 white britannica encyclopedia sells for $50 or so at auction and for $120 to $150 from antique book dealers.

But the digital age was evolving fast, and over the next 20 years, the Encyclopedia Britannica would die a slow death. Over a three-year span starting in 1993, revenues dropped 50%, following the release of Microsoft's CD-ROM encyclopedia, Encarta.

World Book was first published in 1917. Since 1925, a new edition of the encyclopedia has been published annually. Although published online in digital form for a number of years, World Book is currently the only American encyclopedia which also still provides a print edition.

For serious errors, such as misinterpretations of important concepts, 4 were found in Wikipedia, and 4 in Britannica (1:1). The study concluded that "Wikipedia comes close to Britannica in terms of the accuracy of its science entries", although Wikipedia's articles were often "poorly structured".

Authors of articles in general encyclopedias, or encyclopedias that cover all subject areas (such as the Encyclopedia Britannica), are not always listed. There are few situations in which you would list an entire encyclopedia in your references; you will need to list the individual article(s) that you consulted.

I inherited a 1952 World Book set from an older cousin, then part-exchanged it for a 1979 set (plus the 1980 "Year Book" update) thanks to the encyclopedia salesman. The normal price would have been around $1000 even then.

Britannica's commitment to rigor, research, fact-checking, and editing is the prevailing reason we remain the pivotal place of knowledge. Honoring this commitment is time-consuming, expensive work. How do I donate to Encyclopaedia Britannica?

Are old encyclopedias worth keeping? ›

Encyclopedia collections are going the way of pianos and sets of fine china: everyone has them, but nobody wants them. While there are a few exceptions, encyclopedia sets have virtually no value. No used bookstore will buy them, and even thrift stores are leery about taking them, because they know they won't sell.

In 2012, after 244 years, Britannica ended the print editions, with the 32 volumes of the 2010 installment being the last on paper; future editions have been published exclusively online since.

Recycling encyclopedias

Call your local library and ask if you may donate your set to be sold. Put it up for giveaway on freecycle.org. If they're really old -- say, more than 100 years -- call a rare bookseller and ask if they're worth anything.

Basically, no. A complete set in very good condition might sell for a few hundred dollars. They have no rarity value and they aren't antiques.

A 1958 complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica will sell in the online market for between $150 and $300.

A.J. Jacobs was not the first to read the entire Britannica. The earliest recorded example was Fath Ali, who upon becoming the Shah of Persia in 1797, was given a gift of the 3rd edition of the Britannica.

Britannica is a membership site, so only paid members and Free Trial participants are able to access the entire Britannica database and complete line of special features.

For serious errors, such as misinterpretations of important concepts, 4 were found in Wikipedia, and 4 in Britannica (1:1). The study concluded that "Wikipedia comes close to Britannica in terms of the accuracy of its science entries", although Wikipedia's articles were often "poorly structured".

Places you might be able to donate or place old books: rare bookseller. old book collectors. local library.