tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post547273577248961594..comments2024-03-04T04:08:39.755-08:00Comments on The Fies Files: My Influential Books: Richards Topical EncyclopediaBrian Fieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-59482357139934600072022-09-28T08:33:14.294-07:002022-09-28T08:33:14.294-07:00Steve, thanks for the comment! I do still see comm...Steve, thanks for the comment! I do still see comments, and this post has turned out to be one of my most popular. I envy you even trying to build that clubhouse with the underground entrance. I really wanted to build it but, even as a boy, I wondered what would happen the first time it rained. Now I know. Brian Fieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-6326774971767140922022-09-27T18:08:26.045-07:002022-09-27T18:08:26.045-07:00Brian, what a blast from the past! Your first post...Brian, what a blast from the past! Your first post was nearly 9 years ago, but I hope you're still reading these. We've had the Richards Encyclopaedias (and the Arthur Mees Children's Encyclopaedias) in a box at home for years. And yes, Volume 14 was the favourite, especially the private clubhouse. My cousin and I went to the extent of digging the escape tunnel behind our garage before the actual structure went up (which it never did). It just filled with water and became so smelly the neighbours complained and we had to fill it in. Nearly seventy now and went online to see if they have any worth (all very good condition, except for parts of volume 14 of course). I didn't think there would be any interest in them, but it seems there is. Not sure if they're saleable here in Australia, and their weight would make postage overseas prohibitive. At least they're now out of the box and in the bookshelves.Steve, Melbourne Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-40520774078501934382022-05-13T16:13:59.642-07:002022-05-13T16:13:59.642-07:00Judi, Volume 14 was the best! Thanks for commentin...Judi, Volume 14 was the best! Thanks for commenting.Brian Fieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-6837716608114359662022-05-13T16:05:49.748-07:002022-05-13T16:05:49.748-07:00I spent my childhood with my nose buried mainly in...I spent my childhood with my nose buried mainly in Volume 14, but read many sections of the others as well. Dad's set was the one with the embossed cover showing the boat like a Viking ship. The set is luckily stored in a box here in a nice dry place. My adult son still talks about Volume 14 and how many things there were to do in it - they were and still are a marvellous set of informative encyclopedias.Judi McKailnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-35144121573998393312021-10-29T17:45:29.600-07:002021-10-29T17:45:29.600-07:00I ordered and received the 1962 edition. I ordered and received the 1962 edition. Dottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856272244632111793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-50954258970600585312021-09-29T10:36:33.543-07:002021-09-29T10:36:33.543-07:00Diana, I don't see a scale-model town in my Vo...Diana, I don't see a scale-model town in my Volume 14. Maybe it depends on the edition (mine is 1959)? They do have instructions for building a single small house out of cardboard, and others for making a terrific puppet theater that kind of looks like a town--many neat colorful sets and backdrops.<br /><br />It sure sounds familiar, though! Wish I could place it.<br /><br />Hope you enjoy your books, I love the idea of teaching your kids Spanish with them.Brian Fieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-46762027905818936592021-09-29T10:15:17.201-07:002021-09-29T10:15:17.201-07:00I grew up in Colombia, so we had the Spanish versi...I grew up in Colombia, so we had the Spanish version, it was called “Nueva Enciclopedia Temática “ and boy, me and my brother have wonderful memories from it! My mom still has it, except for Volume 13, which is the Leisure one, my brother stole it! I found an Spanish version on EBay (still waiting for it) in the hope it will encourage my kids to read in Spanish, but then I got curious about the English version, that’s when I found this post. I just ordered that one too! My husband grew on Child Craft, so I can’t wait to show him this one. Something I am wondering is I remember our Spanish version Leisure volume had instructions and the plans to build a scale model of a town. Does the English version has it? Because I found a digital copy of Volume 14 in archive.com and I didn’t see it. Maybe my memory is failing me and is in another volume?Diananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-45017323439237074292021-07-07T19:21:02.511-07:002021-07-07T19:21:02.511-07:00Put a permanent search on eBay and you will be not...Put a permanent search on eBay and you will be notified if one becomes available. I did that for volume 14 two weeks ago and I got an email saying one was for sale on eBay. I didn’t mind paying $50 for a piece of my childhood that was so important to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-51043435233944225092021-07-03T17:25:17.991-07:002021-07-03T17:25:17.991-07:00Hi, great blog. I'm 64 and our family had the ...Hi, great blog. I'm 64 and our family had the 1940 edition. Unfortunately Mum threw them out some years before she died in 2018. The other day I suddenly wanted to have the set again so I'm hoping to buy the 1940 edition set. ChrisMFrancishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10820639732462793106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-69366360398010246122021-02-20T06:09:17.641-08:002021-02-20T06:09:17.641-08:00Thanks Kevin. If I'm able to, I may try to fin...Thanks Kevin. If I'm able to, I may try to find the 1962 edition. Dottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856272244632111793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-7820418177347012722021-02-19T16:29:20.760-08:002021-02-19T16:29:20.760-08:00Dotty;
According to this, 1962 was the last year t...Dotty;<br />According to this, 1962 was the last year that Richards Topical Encyclopedia was published.<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_encyclopedias<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-64693841163321635012021-02-19T16:24:35.959-08:002021-02-19T16:24:35.959-08:00Jo;
I am so envious that you got the whole set for...Jo;<br />I am so envious that you got the whole set for $75! I would almost pay that much just for a copy of volume 14 with a cover on. Mine lost its cover years ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-58854014169815753442021-02-19T13:49:26.568-08:002021-02-19T13:49:26.568-08:00I found and bought the whole set (including Volume...I found and bought the whole set (including Volume 14) on ebay for $75.00. I'm so happy to have them! I thought I was the only kid to read the encyclopedia! I think my parents bought several reference sets from a door-to-door salesman, even with a little bookcase. They truly were a wonderful gift for their kids!Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-34650343393906225242021-02-17T07:40:28.147-08:002021-02-17T07:40:28.147-08:00Thanks, Straker! Glad you found the article. Funny...Thanks, Straker! Glad you found the article. Funny how one set of books made such a big difference to so many people.Brian Fieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-55913751410590432192021-02-17T01:26:41.382-08:002021-02-17T01:26:41.382-08:00I was heartened to find your post on the Richards ...I was heartened to find your post on the Richards Topical Encyclopedia. These were very influential in my youth. You have pointed out some of the highlights, and the spaceflight/exploration section was a favourite. I rescued all volumes when we were clearing out my parent's home. You don't throw gems like this away. Thanks.strakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853148542080937190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-87232060519642721292020-08-23T14:45:32.833-07:002020-08-23T14:45:32.833-07:00Sorry, Dotty, I have no idea!Sorry, Dotty, I have no idea!Brian Fieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-17170673700182888472020-08-23T13:29:36.233-07:002020-08-23T13:29:36.233-07:00When was the last year that Richards Topical Encyc...When was the last year that Richards Topical Encyclopedia came out?Dottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856272244632111793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-26603001409746318542020-08-13T21:22:23.067-07:002020-08-13T21:22:23.067-07:00So neat So neat Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17375584859264350459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-3694166923114195322020-08-13T21:21:38.687-07:002020-08-13T21:21:38.687-07:00Oh yes. Volume 14 was tattered abd well used. Love...Oh yes. Volume 14 was tattered abd well used. Loved it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17375584859264350459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-84362877505618692732020-08-13T21:21:00.781-07:002020-08-13T21:21:00.781-07:00Yes!! We had those too!! Sweet memories. Yes!! We had those too!! Sweet memories. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17375584859264350459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-46134581360245536512020-02-25T16:05:35.680-08:002020-02-25T16:05:35.680-08:00I have the complete set and the dogs are in Volume...I have the complete set and the dogs are in Volume 4 page 489. I loved relying on this encyclopedia for my school papers. BonnieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06384031743499988055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-62474570000496588722020-02-22T08:17:34.531-08:002020-02-22T08:17:34.531-08:00Ejo, my family had most of the same books. People ...Ejo, my family had most of the same books. People really liked to own encyclopedias then, and a surprising number of kids loved to read them!<br /><br />Beverly, thanks! I really wanted that clubhouse. I remember the dog breeds but can't tell you which volume had them. Wish I could; I lost my house in a fire a couple of years ago and the Richard's encyclopedias went with it. Hoping to replace it someday!<br /><br />Kevin, thanks. They do turn up on eBay sometimes, keep looking and happy hunting!<br /><br />Dotty, I don't know. You could do it! I can say that out of all the things I've posted in more than 15 years, this topic is the most popular.<br />Brian Fieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347700145666751363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-24557135972173771302020-02-22T07:16:26.552-08:002020-02-22T07:16:26.552-08:00Is there any chance that someone could start a Fac...Is there any chance that someone could start a Facebook page about these encyclopedias?Dottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856272244632111793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-67910788968381649422020-02-21T10:16:56.932-08:002020-02-21T10:16:56.932-08:00I have looked on Ebay and Amazon for Volume 14 for...I have looked on Ebay and Amazon for Volume 14 for years with no luch. I have my old copy but it has no cover. I read it way often!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568334561722760329.post-49597029071078592652020-02-21T10:11:21.888-08:002020-02-21T10:11:21.888-08:00Oh my gosh I am loving this about the Richards Enc...Oh my gosh I am loving this about the Richards Encyclopedia Volume 14!<br />I too longed to build that clubhouse! My brother Jack and I were the most interested in the books and he was great with his hands but sadly we never did build the clubhouse or the "House That Jack Built" on page 10.<br />I was trying to choose a favorite page but realized they were all my favorites. <br />Thanks so much for this!<br />Which volume had the dog breeds in it? I pored over those pictures everyday as I was in love with dogs!<br />I am hoping to buy that particular volume.<br />Kudos to the guy who actually built the clubhouse!!<br />Bev Beverley Nivennoreply@blogger.com