Books: Sears, Roebuck Encyclopedia

Of the 1,068 pages in the new Sears, Roebuck catalogue, only four advertise books. But Sears, Roebuck is a big factor in one branch of the book business. Since 1920 it has owned a controlling interest in the Encyclopædia Britannica (total sales—1,000,000 sets). First published in Scotland in 1768, the Britannica came under U. S. ownership 35 years ago, barely squeezed through its 12th, 13th and 14th editions, was often rescued by the late Julius Rosenwald when he headed Sears, Roebuck. For its 14th edition, it needed $2,500,000 to keep going. This month veteran Editor Franklin Henry Hooper resigns after 40 years with the Britannica, turning over the reins to aggressive Walter Yust, associate editor and ex-newspaperman. Now moving from its Manhattan offices to luxurious new quarters in Chicago’s Civic Opera Building, the staff is working on the encyclopædia’s new yearbook of 1,000 articles, scheduled for publication this month.