I would like to know if it is legal for me to reprint a 2 volume history & biography set - that bears no copyright information - at my expense for resale purposes? The 2 volume set was published in 1907 and 1908 by a publishing company that is no longer in existance. The history was compiled primarily from newspaper articles, printed sources and interviewing about 150 people of the areas included. The biographies contain a considerable amount of family history, genealogy and pictures that would be invaluable to descendants of those included in the volumes. I contacted several public libraries and historical societies, local and state, and only one had a set which was a xerox copy. They all expressed an interest in a reprinted set. What about reprinting books over 70 years since publication that do contain copyright information?
I am a military retiree. To supplement my retirement and to help people researching their roots, I opened a small used book store specializing in history and genealogy.

buttonnose

according to international copyright law, a book is protected under the law for 90 years after its publication so this books is probably expired...