The American Cyclopaedia Value Guide

The American Cyclopaedia represents a monumental 19th-century intellectual achievement edited by George Ripley and Charles Anderson Dana. This specific Volume III (BOL-CAR) is highly collectible for its high-quality wood engravings and its role as a staple of the Victorian-era home library.

What Is The American Cyclopaedia Worth?

The typical price range for The American Cyclopaedia is $25 - $30 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the leather binding, specifically looking for 'red rot' or detached boards.
• Completeness of the internal pages, including the presence of all original maps and illustrations.
• The clarity and preservation of the gold leaf gilding on the exterior spine.
• Historical provenance or evidence of belonging to a notable 19th-century private collection.

How to Identify The American Cyclopaedia?

• Check for the D. Appleton & Company imprint on the title page, dating between 1873 and 1883.
• Verify the presence of gold leaf lettering and decorative detailing on the leather spine.
• Confirm the volume covers the specific alphabetical range of entries from BOL to CAR.
• Look for the characteristic high-quality wood engravings and maps integrated throughout the text.

History of The American Cyclopaedia

Originally published as the New American Cyclopaedia between 1857 and 1866, this series was edited by George Ripley and Charles Anderson Dana. It was a major intellectual undertaking of the era, designed to provide a comprehensive and American-centric view of global knowledge. D. Appleton & Company revised and rebranded it as The American Cyclopaedia in the 1870s, incorporating high-quality wood engravings and maps that made it a staple in Victorian-era home libraries.