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The Pears Cyclopaedia Collector's Gallery - Editions 21 to 56

Sometime between the 21st and the 31st editions the front cover style changed to replace the contents list with a standard style.

The publication of the 41st edition in February 1932 introduced a virtually new Pears, including the current larger size (as shown). According to the Publishers at the time the whole book was revised and re-edited. The book was still not being published annually, but 'as demand requires' (usually based on a print run of 75,000 copies).

The 1940-47 issues are particularly interesting, being 'War Economy Issues', and much thinner (less pages) than normal editions. It is believed that the normal print run of 75,000 copies was reduced to only 5,000 (approx.) for these editions, making surviving copies hard to come by.

21st edition (1917)

Total Pears: 1,500,000
Print run: 100,000 copies
22nd edition (1919)
Events to Oct. 1919
Total Pears: 1,600,000
Print run: 100,000 copies
23rd edition (1920)
Events to Sep. 1920
Total Pears: 1,700,000
Print run: 100,000 copies
24th edition (1921)
Events to Jan. 1921
Total Pears: 1,800,000
Print run: 100,000 copies
25th edition (????)

Total Pears: 1,900,000
Print run: ? copies
26th edition (????)
Total Pears: 2,000,000
Print run:100,000 copies
27th edition (1924)
Total Pears: 2,100,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
28th edition (1925)
Total Pears: 2,150,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
29th edition (????)
Total Pears: 2,225,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
30th edition (????)
Total Pears: 2,300,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
31st edition (1927)
Total Pears: 2,375,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
32nd edition (October 1927)
Total Pears: 2,450,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
33rd edition (May 1928)
Total Pears: 2,525,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
34th edition (May 1929)
Total Pears: 2,600,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
35th edition (Nov. 1929)
Total Pears: 2,675,000
Print run: 100,000 copies
36th edition (February 1930)
Total Pears: 2,775,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
37th edition (April 1930)
Total Pears: 2,850,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
38th edition (October 1930)
Total Pears: 2,925,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
39th edition (March 1931)
Total Pears: 2,975,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
40th edition (July 1931)
Total Pears: 3,025,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
41st edition (Feb. 1932)
Total Pears: 3,100,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
42nd edition (June 1932)
Total Pears: 3,175,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
43rd edition (April 1933)
Total Pears: 3,250,000
Print run: 75,000 copies
44th edition (1934)
Total Pears: 3,300,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
45th edition (1935)
Total Pears: 3,350,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
46th edition (1936)
Total Pears: 3,400,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
Cover price: 2'6
47th edition
Total Pears: 3,450,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
48th edition (March 1938)
Total Pears: 3,500,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
49th edition (1939)
Total Pears: 3,550,000
Print run: 50,000 copies
50th edition (1939)
Total Pears: 3,600,000
Print run: 25,500 copies
51st edition (1940)


Total Pears: 3,625,500
Print run: 79,500 copies
52nd edition (1941)
War Economy Issue
(with Dust Jacket)
Total Pears: 3,705,000
Print run: 5,000 copies
Cover Price: 4'-
53rd edition (1942)
War Economy Issue
(with Dust Jacket)
Total Pears: 3,710,000
Print run: 25,000 copies
Cover Price: 4'-
   
There is an alternate version of the 1942, 53rd edition. It has
a 4 shilling price in a red circle in the centre (as for the 52nd
edition), but the red circle has been cancelled by two
diagonal lines.

On the back cover it states 'WAR TIME ECONOMY'.
This edition has been abridged by the elimination of 6 sections,
viz., Business, Classical, Cookery, Health, Photography and
Wireless. These sections will be re-instated as soon as
conditions become
normal.

PRODUCTION COSTS. In view of the increased cost of
production, the net price of this volume has been raised
to 5/- (Five shillings).'

54th edition
War Economy Issue

Total Pears: 3,735,000
Print run: 31,000 copies
55th edition (June 1945)


Total Pears: 3,766,000
Print run: 37,500 copies
56th edition (1946)
War Economy Issue
(with dust jacket)
Total Pears: 3,803,750
Print run: 5,200 copies