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Finding the Value of Webster's Dictionaries

July 8, 2021

The front cover of a dictionary.I came across a 1972 new edition Webster's dictionary that is only printed to page 32, after that, they are all blank pages. Have any of your experts ever seen this copy or have heard of it? And could this possibly have a value to it?I have included pictures to show somewhat that it just stops. Thank you for any info.

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Back cover of a dictionary.
 
Table of contents of a dictionary.
 
the copyright page of a dictionary.
 
The title page of a dictionary
 
Blank pages in a dictionary.
 
Blank pages in a dictionary.
 

Answers


Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 320 Answers
July 8, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

A misprinted book or one with binding errors etc. usually increases in value only if the original/whole version is rare or otherwise valuable. So unfortunately it's not likely that a paperback dictionary would fit this rule.

 
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121 More Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

January 20, 2021

I've looked around. This book has a signature in the front under Webster's photograph. Can you estimate the value?

1927 Websters New International Dictionary Value?
 
1927 Websters New International Dictionary Value?
 
1927 Websters New International Dictionary Value?
 
1927 Websters New International Dictionary Value?
 

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
January 20, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

Books are not always valuable just because they are 'old' or of a certain age.
Antique/vintage books that sell for high prices are usually bought by collectors and condition means is a big part of what they look at unless it is a really rare book and this particular book is not rare and there are many for sale in much better condition.

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The 'signature' is not an autograph as it is printed in every edition.

You can find a lot of this year and other years listed for sale but an asking price is just a price the seller would like to receive for their items but only a sold item in identical condition can be considered as 'current value'.
eBay's sold listings show only one of these books have sold in the past several months. This book sold for $49.99 plus shipping but it is in much better condition than yours. Also, this particular book has been listed for sale on eBay for 2 1/2 years before it sold - yes years is correct.
www.ebay.com/.../303759745795?hash=item46b97de303...

Going by this sale at $49.99 I would say the value of your book is probably somewhere from $15 to $25 and may take months/years to sell - that is not to say that it will not sell faster as sales are not predictable.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
January 21, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

I believe the signature is preprinted as I have seen it in other version, but you could always have an expert look at it.

This is showing the same signature in a Worthpoint ad:

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www.worthpoint.com/.../websters-international-dictionary...

I am not a fan of the site so I no longer belong. They used to offer free trials. You could do the free trial and see if this one sold for more and when and maybe confirm with them it is preprinted.

If you do the trial, be sure to cancel IMMEDIATELY or they will bill you forever.

Post back what you learn!

 
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January 21, 2021

I have a 1941 Webster's unabridged dictionary. This is a great dictionary with pictures and maps. But at 6inches thick, it's a bit daunting for mobile office use.

Would love someone to love it like we have.

A hardbound dictionary with a black cover.
 
Title page of a Webster's dictionary.
 
The copyright page of a dictionary.
 

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
January 21, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

Vintage dictionaries do still sell but it seems different years are listed online on many sites so most of the years are easily available.
To find current value, you need to find an identical item and of course that is not possible with vintage books so you just have to try and see what other years are selling for.

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I did find one very similar dictionary listed for sale on eBay.Ca for $69 with $19 shipping to the US. You can place a watch on this one to see if it sells.
www.ebay.com/.../324425926146
For sale prices are all over the place but asking prices have very little to do with value - only sold items represent what someone was willing to pay.
www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524...

You can check out eBay's sold listings but I only found one 1941 year that has sold over the past several months. This one sold for $30 with free shipping.
www.ebay.com/.../113715622101?hash=item1a79fab0d5...

You can take a look and see what is selling. It appears the 1956 & 1957 are the most popular.
www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=websters+new...

It appears that $25-$40 would be a good price to ask for your dictionary. How long it takes to sell is something that is very unpredictable so be prepared to wait if necessary.

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You may find more information here:
www.thriftyfun.com/Finding-the-Value-of-Old-Websters...

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
January 21, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

You are fortunate that it looks like there was a sold version on eBay recently at 29.99 (free shipping--which means seller paid to ship). Since it could go media mail, the seller probably netted around $20 after fees and shipping. That would be the value on that day it sold.

www.ebay.com/.../113715622101?hash=item1a79fab0d5...

Books are fairly easy for new sellers to sell on eBay. All you need is to set up a seller account with whatever payment method they are requiring--I am missing the name of it--it used to be PayPal only, but now they have their own payment system, links to your bank.

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Be sure to keep it US only (if you are in the US) or if you are not, keep the sale in your country so you don't have to mess with customs.

If you are a new seller, books are a great way to jump into eBay selling. Happy to offer tips. Been selling there since 1998!!

 
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April 18, 2022

I have a Webster's New Illustrated Dictionary, copyrighted in 1968 by books, inc. It is printed up side down and backwards. It is in good shape. It is a hard back book. I was wondering if it is worth anything and how much.

I know it has to be a relatively rare find being a double misprint. If it is worth anything, how would i go about selling it? Thanks.

Double Misprinted Webster's New Illustrated Dictionary?
 
Upside down pages in a dictionary.
 
Upside down pages in a dictionary.
 
The spine of a dictonary.
 
The back of a dictionary.
 
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March 19, 2021

I have a Universal Webster Morris Self Pronouncing dictionary. Only Copyright 1908, The John C. Winston CO. It has a preface by Charles Morris.

Leatherbound, very good condition. Is this valuable? Thank you for your time.

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July 2, 2020

I have a 1839 American Dictionary of the English language; exhibiting the origin, orthography, pronunciation and definition of words to which were added a Synopsis of Words, and Walker's Key. It is a stereotype edition, published by White & Sheffield.

The pages are mostly okay, none are missing. You can read them all, there is some spotting, cover is intact but worn and your can't read title. There are 1011 pages. The binding loose but still attached. See photos.

Value 1839 Webster's Dictionary? - cover page
 
Value 1839 Webster's Dictionary?
 
Value 1839 Webster's Dictionary?
 
Value 1839 Webster's Dictionary?
 

Answers


Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
July 4, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

Value? Probably very little as this edition is not very rare and a collector looks for a book in good to excellent condition.
There is presently one dictionary like yours (but in much better condition) listed for sale on eBay and the bidding is presently at $16.50 so you might want to place a watch on this listing to see what the final price will be.
No matter the final price it cannot be used as a 'current value' for your book as the condition is not comparable.

www.ebay.com/.../383607990851?hash=item5950d16a43...

ThriftyFun has a link about the value of dictionaries - maybe some of the answers may help you reach a value for your book:

www.thriftyfun.com/Value-of-Old-Websters-Dictionary...

Here is a link to eBay's sold listings so you can see what type of dictionaries (especially condition) people are looking for and willing to pay even a few dollars for. Very few are very valuable as the really rare books are usually sold at public auctions.

www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=1839+American...

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
July 5, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

The cover of this book is in very poor conditions and collectors are not normally interested in books in poor condition. You might be able to find a person who is interested in this book but considering there are quite a few of them available it will make it harder to sell this one. I can offer you a suggestion and that is to visit an auction house that sells books and speak with them. They are the experts and understand the market and value of this book. I would not post this online because there are so many books posted online it will make it very hard for a person to find this book.

 
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