The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎403v] (159/232)

About Christmas Presents.
These are the
i.
¥.
The purpose of this little note ij> to persuade the reader to
select the “ Encyclopasdia Britannica ”—the best of all
Christmas presents : a royal gift; and yet a gift which may
be obtained for only five shillings in ready money. But an
argument is not the less worth reading because it leads to but
one conclusion ; if it is sound reasoning it must end in some one
upshot. Here, then, are some brief statements about the
“ Encyclopaedia ’ which the reader will judge for himself; and
if they interest him he can obtain much fuller information by
sending to the Daily
Mail for the particulars
of the offer. A half
penny stamp will carry
to its destination the
enquiry form which is
printed on the fourth
page of this advertise
ment, and by return of
post specimen pages
and details of the offer
will be sent.
You are not asked
to make up your mind
now that you will
choose this particular
Christmas present—you sre asked only to spend a half-penny
in order to see what sort of a Christmas present it is. This
advertisement cannot tell you that—the whole magazine is
hardly large enough to describe a book that contains 22,000
pages : a library, rather than a book.
In the first place, this very fact that the “ Encyclopaedia
Britannica” is the biggest book in the world is an argument in
itself. A Christmas gift ought to arrive “ with a bump,” as the
children say, it ought to make a place for itself among the other
presents ; and a box of 25 large volumes—weighing nearer two
hundredweight than one—with another great package contain
ing a revolving book-case, is a gift that does not permit itself to
be overlooked. Nor is it only the first impression that one must
consider. This present is not only a big present when the
carrier delivers it, but it remains a big present always; a proud
array of sumptuously bound volumes, in a substantial and
convenient case ; a present He or She will see every time the
room is entered, a present that everyone who comes to the house
will admire. It may seem undignified to speak of so authori
tative and scholarly a work as the “ Encyclopaedia Britannica"
as if it were a mere piece of furniture, but it is that, besides
being a useful and dignified book. It makes of the drawing
room in which it is
placed, a library as well
as a drawing-room, a
richer and more im
pressive room than it
had been before.
In the second place,
a Christmas Gift, what
ever it is, should be the
best of its kind; all
shoddy things, all
pinchbeck and “ Brum
magem ’* and sham is
a sin against the spirit
of Christmas. You are
not trying to get the
upper hand of Him or Her at Christmas, to pasg off something
second best ; you want a genuine solid article, whether it is to
be a modest gift or an important gift, and you would rather send
an important gift if the price and terms of sale bring it within
your means.
BEST IN THE WORLD.
If you decide upon the “ Encyclopaedia ” you are getting the
best—the very best in the world. It is the one great standard
Library of Reference. The eleven hundred writers who made
the “ Encyclopaedia ” are the greatest men of our time. Lord
Kelvin and Mr. Swinburne, Lord Rayleigh and Mr. Bryce, the