# What can I do with a 50 year old encyclopedia? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830 "2014-10-19T17:29:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/1 "2014-10-19T17:29:14Z")
I’m slowly trying to declutter my home and have decided to get rid of an 1965 Britannica encyclopedia set. I can’t imagine that anyone would want to use this now that we have the internet. Any suggestions on what I can do with it instead of just throwing it into the trash? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/2 "2014-10-19T17:38:56Z")
Classic gilded white elephant - too fine and “valuable” to throw away, of no use to much of anyone. ---
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/3 "2014-10-19T17:47:42Z")
You can either try to sell it now or keep it and hope it’ll be worth more in the future. In another 50 years it’ll be antique. 🙂 I’m sure there are people who would love to put something like this on their shelves just because it’s cool. (I would if I had the space.) The shipping could put a dent in your profit, though. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/4 "2014-10-19T17:50:26Z")
Call around to used bookstores. They probably have all they can use, but one within driving range might put it on a high shelf and sell it cheap to someone who wants it as (_sigh_) decorative shelf-filler. At least it will live on. ETA: especially being the “real thing” and not one of the lesser or even crapware versions. ---
**Author:** ![Waymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/5 "2014-10-19T19:05:27Z")
Turn it into a blog. Look for oddball information in it, theories that have been proven wrong, etc, and make short essays of them. Consider it a snap shot of a certain place and time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/6 "2014-10-19T19:09:33Z")
Give it to the Salvation Army and take a tax write-off. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/7 "2014-10-19T20:37:16Z")
I bet there’s a lot of nice pictures in them… might be good for cutting up for scrapbooking or other projects? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/8 "2014-10-19T21:09:08Z")
Use glue & a nail-gun, & a cutting tool. Convert it into an end table, a small telephone desk, or even a bookshelf! > **[A Bookshelf Made of Encyclopedias! YAY!](https://www.instructables.com/A-bookshelf-made-of-encyclopedias!-YAY!/)** > > A Bookshelf Made of Encyclopedias! YAY!: I work at Half Price Books, and I've been trying to find out what to do with all the books we can't resell or donate. And then this beautiful set of large print encyclopedias came in - and what can I say, I... > **[Old Encyclopedias](https://www.pinterest.com/grograou/old-encyclopedias/)** > > 14 sept. 2022 - Explorez le tableau « Old Encyclopedias » de Stan Manoukian, auquel 205 utilisateurs de Pinterest sont abonnés. Voir plus d'idées sur le thème enluminure, lettrage vintage, police d'écriture. > **[How to Make a Yu-Gi-Oh Deckbox](https://ourpastimes.com/how-to-make-a-yu-gi-oh-deckbox-12606462.html)** > > A Yu-Gi-Oh! deckbox is a convenient way to tote your playing cards around. Like the box that holds a standard deck of playing cards, a Yu-Gi-Oh! deckbox stacks your cards into a form fitting enclosure, an ideal size for your pants or bag pocket. The... > **[How to Make a Homemade Children's Book With Laminated Pages](https://ourpastimes.com/how-to-make-a-homemade-childrens-book-with-laminated-pages-12617220.html)** > > Personalized gifts provide one way to make the recipient feel special and appreciated. Children who receive a homemade book, especially when the book is about the child, attach special feelings to the book. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/9 "2014-10-19T21:31:40Z")
Use puzzle glue and a utility knife and make all of them into “secret compartment” books. Put them on high shelf to give the impression that you are using them purely decoratively. Stash money, guns, and whatever else you might want to stash in them. Extra points if the stash starts with the same letter as the volume. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/10 "2014-10-19T23:15:13Z")
door stop ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/11 "2014-10-19T23:37:58Z")
Spend the rest of your life reading through every one of them. You will feel smarter than so many experts who actually wrote the articles. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/12 "2014-10-20T00:13:20Z")
I’ve got a similar problem. I have a collection of National Geographic Magazines. They are all boxed up, in chronological order, and each magazine is in a plastic slip cover. All maps for issues are present. One hundred **YEARS** of magazines, 1914 to the present. Takes up a lot of space. They need a new home. If someone wanted them and would take them all I’d let them go for the price of coming and picking them up. But it would be all or nothing. I’ve explored different ways of “advertising” them, but so far no takers. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/13 "2014-10-20T00:57:42Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I’ve got a similar problem. I have a collection of National Geographic Magazines. > > They are all boxed up, in chronological order, and each magazine is in a plastic slip cover. All maps for issues are present. > > One hundred **YEARS** of magazines, 1914 to the present. Takes up a lot of space. They need a new home. If someone wanted them and would take them all I’d let them go for the price of coming and picking them up. But it would be all or nothing. > > I’ve explored different ways of “advertising” them, but so far no takers. You’ve tried freecycle, right? Lots of homeschoolers would take them, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/14 "2014-10-20T01:23:00Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I’ve got a similar problem. I have a collection of National Geographic Magazines. > > They are all boxed up, in chronological order, and each magazine is in a plastic slip cover. All maps for issues are present. > > One hundred **YEARS** of magazines, 1914 to the present. Takes up a lot of space. They need a new home. If someone wanted them and would take them all I’d let them go for the price of coming and picking them up. But it would be all or nothing. > > I’ve explored different ways of “advertising” them, but so far no takers. No doubt there are copyright issues involved for at least some of the newer stuff; but while I would have no interest in having the magazines themselves, I would pay good money for a DVD with high quality scans of the magazines and maps. I’m probably not the only one, either. You might be able to make a few bucks off them, yet. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/15 "2014-10-20T01:27:12Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > No doubt there are copyright issues involved for at least some of the newer stuff; but while I would have no interest in having the magazines themselves, I would pay good money for a DVD with high quality scans of the magazines and maps. I’m probably not the only one, either. You might be able to make a few bucks off them, yet. Here you go … [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/complete-national-geographic/](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/complete-national-geographic/) > **[Amazon.com: National Geographic Maps: The Complete Collection](https://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Maps-Complete-Collection/dp/B00007E1MN)** > > For well over a century, students and armchair travelers alike have enjoyed the cartography in National Geographic magazine. Now computer users have unprecedented access to over a century of foldout maps in National Geographic Maps, the comprehensive... ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/16 "2014-10-20T01:39:00Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Here you go … > > [National Geographic Magazine Archive](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/complete-national-geographic/) > [Amazon.com: National Geographic Maps: The Complete Collection](http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Maps-Complete-Collection/dp/B00007E1MN) Thanks! I believe I am going to have to buy that. I may never leave the house again…the advertisements in old Nat Geos fascinate me…the fonts…the photos…the copy…the products themselves… ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/17 "2014-10-20T01:41:39Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Thanks! I believe I am going to have to buy that. I may never leave the house again…the advertisements in old Nat Geos fascinate me…the fonts…the photos…the copy…the products themselves… Come on, admit it. You just want to look at the female bare-breasted photos, don’t you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/18 "2014-10-20T01:50:35Z")
(damn… ninjaed by Duckster…) Anyway… the old encyclopedias are kind of entertaining to read; my parents still have my dad’s early-1950s World Book encyclopedia set, and I think they have a late 1960s Collier’s Encyclopedia set as well, unless they unloaded them and didn’t tell me. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/19 "2014-10-20T01:51:35Z")
Use the pages to decoupage stuff or other paper crafts. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830/20 "2014-10-20T03:29:07Z")
I’m worse off than the OP. I have a 1970 Taiwanese knockoff set of the World Book encyclopedia. It’s basically 20-some volumes of xeroxed pages, with – no joke – all references to the Communist government in mainland China redacted. It belongs in a museum of copyright or Cold War history. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-a-50-year-old-encyclopedia/701830.md?page=2)