The Philistines of literature live in the reference section. This is where unabridged dictionaries walk. On Monday, while out on a used book hunting trip with the family, I spotted this beast—the 3,200 page Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition (1937). Its neighbor, the Oxford dictionary weighs 5.4 pounds. I tried holding the Webster. I’d guess it weighs over 30 pounds, the Goliath of reference books. (Sure makes me thankful for online dictionaries!)
Tony Reinke 
The Oxford dictionary to which you refer here is a condensed version. The original OED is composed of 20-volumes and weighs in at 137 pounds!!
so did you buy that sucker?!! That’s a sweet antique on the shelf just to look at.
Not for $60 I didn’t, Tom. But I would be lying if I denied that in my mind I had cleared a spot in my library for it. Call it self-control I suppose.
AMEN on having online ones.
Tony, What are your favorite used book bookstores in the DC area?