The Dialogues of Plato Value Guide

This mid-20th-century edition of Plato's Dialogues and The Seventh Letter represents a significant effort by Encyclopædia Britannica to bring foundational Western philosophy to the American public. Featuring the definitive translations by Benjamin Jowett and J. Harward, these cloth-bound volumes are prized for their scholarly accuracy and classic aesthetic.

What Is The Dialogues of Plato Worth?

The typical price range for The Dialogues of Plato is $20 - $30 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall condition of the cloth binding, specifically looking for sun-fading or fraying at the spine.
• Presence of original dust jackets, which significantly increases the $20-$30 market value.
• Internal cleanliness, including the absence of foxing, marginalia, or heavy underlining in the text.
• Completeness of the volume, ensuring no pages or introductory plates are missing.

How to Identify The Dialogues of Plato?

• Verify the publisher is listed as Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. on the title page.
• Check for the inclusion of both 'The Dialogues of Plato' and 'The Seventh Letter' within the same volume.
• Confirm the use of Benjamin Jowett and J. Harward as the primary translators.
• Look for the characteristic mid-century cloth binding typical of United States publications from 1930-1950.

History of The Dialogues of Plato

Plato's philosophical dialogues form the bedrock of Western thought, originally written in ancient Greece. This particular edition utilizes the highly influential English translations by Benjamin Jowett and J. Harward. The publication was undertaken by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., a company dedicated to disseminating knowledge, reflecting the 20th-century commitment to compiling and circulating essential classical texts for widespread intellectual consumption.