I thought I’d share this wonderful advertisement Marcy found in a copy of Scientific American from 1896. The focus on “genuine merit,” excellent production values, and the “thousands of special contributors from all over the globe [who] have devoted their best talents to the preparation of this marvelous condensation of all the world’s knowledge” certainly resonates with what we are trying to accomplish, 110 years later. I think you’ll enjoy the sales pitch, too.
That the American people are quick to recognize genuine merit and to manifest their appreciation by hearty response is amply shown by the present flood of orders for the splendid new and richly illustrated edition of our great Standard Dictionary and Encyclopaedia of all the World’s knowledge. From all parts of the country come urgent requests to extend the limit of our Great Special Offer, and in order that none may be disappointed, we have decided to make an extension to November 30. This extremely liberal offer is made for the sole purpose of advertising our superb work of general reference. We cannot hope to make money by it, for the low prices, on such very easy terms, barely pay for paper, printing and binding, saying nothing of the original outlay of over $750,000.00 for the work of editors, artists, and engravers; but the immense amount of talk created will help to make known and popularize that greatest of all modern and up-to-the-times household reference libraries, the ENCYCLOPAEDIC DICTIONARY
UNTIL NOVEMBER 30 this truly marvelous work will be furnished any reader of this announcement on receipt of only $1.00 in cash and the remainder in small monthly payments amounting to about five cents a day. After November 30 prices will be immediately restored to regular rates – $42.00 to $70.00 a set, according to binding.
WE CHALLENGE COMPARISON WITH ALL THE WORLD.
This Superb New Edition
Revised to June 1, 1896, contains thousands of the newer words not found in any other reference book on earth, including the very latest coinages of 1896 such as “Roentgen rays,” “aspetolin,” “vitascope,” “skiagraph,” “fluoroscope,” etc. It is the only up-to-date dictionary, the most practical encyclopaedia, and also a
Genuine Triumph of Art!
with its magnificent array of chromatic plates in 17 COLORS, dozens of single and double-page engravings in delicate monotone, and 3,000 artistic text illustrations.
100 EDITORS
and thousands of special contributors from all over the globe have devoted their best talents to the preparation of this marvelous condensation of all the world’s knowledge. Look at the list! The great Prof. Huxley on zoology and physiology; Prof. Richard A. Proctor, astronomy; Sir John Stainer, music; Hunter, Morris, Estoclet, Herrtage, Williams – the most brilliant educators of the nineteenth century.
REMEMBER! This great work is not for sale in any book-store and can be obtained only from us or our authorized representatives, who will show their credentials.
More than $750,000 Required to Produce this Work.
IT IS THE LATEST AND BEST DICTIONARY of our language. Each legitimate English word is exhaustively treated as to its origin, history, development, spelling, and various meanings.
IT IS A CONCISE ENCYCLOPAEDIA of anatomy, botany, chemistry, zoology, geology, art, music, physics, philosophy, mathematics, mechanics, theology, Biblical research, etc. 50,000 separate encyclopaedic subjects tersely treated by the master minds of our generation.
IT IS A SUPERB LITERARY BOOK, printed on high grade white paper from plates never before on press, durably bound, and containing the most superb illustrations, in 17 colors and in monotone, ever made for any reference work.
printed on high grade white paper from plates never before on press, durably bound, and containing the most superb illustrations, in 17 colors and in monotone, ever made for any reference work.printed on high grade white paper from plates never before on press, durably bound, and containing the most superb illustrations, in 17 colors and in monotone, ever made for any reference work.
IT IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER DICTIONARIES, because it is the latest and most complete containing nearly twice as many words as there are in the largest “unabridged” and treating 20,000 more encyclopaedic subjects than are covered by other cyclopaedias costing from $50 to $200. There is no other publication in its class.
TWO EXPERT OPINIONS – THOUSANDS SIMILAR
Rev. Dr. Chas. H. Parkhurst – “The Encyclopaedic Dictionary is a library condensed into four volumes, a ton of diffusiveness reduced to forty pounds of quintessence, and withal, as delicate in detail as it is comprehensive in contents.”
“Scientific American,” New York, – “It forms to itself a library for the busy man of affairs, the mechanic ambitious to advance himself in his line, or the student or apprentice just making a beginning.”
Adopted as the Standard in Public Schools Throughout the Country.
Send us your Name and Address with 10 cents to pay postage, for our handsome book of specimen pages, samples of colored plates, and other illustrations.
HOW TO SECURE THIS GREAT BARGAIN. – Send $1.00, and the entire four handsome volumes, bound in cloth, will be forwarded. Every month thereafter send $1.50 for twelve months, making a total payment of $19.00 (regular price of this style $42.00). If Half-Russia style is desired, the monthly payments are $2.00 until $25.00 is paid. (regular price of this style $52.50). If full sheep style is wanted, monthly payments are $2.50 until $31.00 is paid (regular price of this style is $60.00). The first payment in any case is only One Dollar. To anyone wishing to pay all cash we allow a discount of ten per cent., and furnish the book-case free of charge; otherwise, the book-case is $1.50, which must be paid in advance. This allowance is practically cost of keeping the account if purchased on monthly payment plan. We always recommend the Half-Russia binding as the most serviceable. (When ordering, be sure to mention style of binding wanted). Understand, the complete set of four volumes is sent after the first payment of $1.00, which gives you the use of them for a year while paying the remainder at the rate of only a few cents a day. All freight or express charges must be paid by the purchaser. That you will be entirely satisfied is shown by our willingness to send you a valuable set of books upon payment of only $1.00. We refer to any Bank, any Newspaper, or any Commercial Agency in Philadelphia. Agents wanted. Mention this paper.
Books Guaranteed as Represented or Money Refunded if Returned within 10 Days.
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