After Nearly 250 Years, Encyclopaedia Britannica To Go Purely Electronic

Encyclopaedia Britannica will stop publishing print editions and go digital-only — a huge step for the encyclopedia which has been in print since 1768.

The sales of Britannica print editions has been on the decline since 1990, when 120,000 32-volume sets were sold.

The early nineties were the start of a revolution: People started turning to the internet for information, and Britannica sales fell to 40,000 in 1996, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. President Jorge Cauz.

However, Cauz insists that, while the print edition of the Britannica is no longer selling well, the digital editions are blooming. “This has nothing to do with Wikipedia or Google. This has to do with the fact that now Britannica sells its digital products to a large number of people,” said Cauz.

Those interested in the final hardcover edition of Britannica can buy it at the company’s website for $1,395.

Britannica currently sells several digital products, including a DVD version of the Encyclopaedia, an online version (available through subscription) and a variety of apps for kids and adults.