Review
'It is certainly fascinating and physically attractive ... Britannica themselves have produced their own reprint of the same first edition ... [but] their quality of reproduction is not quite as good as this one, and it was trimmed to a slightly smaller size; it also lacked Frank Kafker's introduction ... this is a very desirable item to have in any major reference collection. A copy would be enlightening ... not just for the history of reference books, but also for the history of eighteenth century philosophy and culture: it is a fascinating monument to its times, as well as the prototype of one of the world's most famous reference titles.' - Stuart James, Editor of Reference Reviews and Library Review
It is certainly fascinating and physically attractive ... Britannica themselves have produced their own reprint of the same first edition ... [but] their quality of reproduction is not quite as good as this one, and it was trimmed to a slightly smaller size; it also lacked Frank Kafkers introduction ... this is a very desirable item to have in any major reference collection. A copy would be enlightening ... not just for the history of reference books, but also for the history of eighteenth century philosophy and culture: it is a fascinating monument to its times, as well as the prototype of one of the worlds most famous reference titles. - Stuart James, Editor of Reference Reviews and Library Review
It is certainly fascinating and physically attractive ... Britannica themselves have produced their own reprint of the same first edition ... [but] their quality of reproduction is not quite as good as this one, and it was trimmed to a slightly smaller size; it also lacked Frank Kafkers introduction ... this is a very desirable item to have in any major reference collection. A copy would be enlightening ... not just for the history of reference books, but also for the history of eighteenth century philosophy and culture: it is a fascinating monument to its times, as well as the prototype of one of the worlds most famous reference titles. - Stuart James, Editor of Reference Reviews and Library Review
Product Description
Originally sponsored by "a Society of Gentlemen in Scotland", this was in fact simply an Edinburgh trio of the editor William Smellie, the engraver Andrew Bell, and Colin Macfarquahar the printer. Amazingly, this milestone in the history of encyclopaedia making was first issued in one hundred parts in less than three years. Inspired by the success of Diderot's Encyclopedia, the three Scotsmen hoped to imporve on its short-comings. It was the first English-language compendium to be called an encyclopaedia, and unlike rival publications it was published in quarto rather than the usual octavo or folio format. The encyclopaedia was compiled on a completely new plan, alphabetically arranged, combining easy reference to individual items, terms and minor topics. It was a pioneering way to organize and disseminate learning. Given the speed of publication and the small jack-of-all-trades team involved, the first edition could not hope to rival the elaborate and lavishly-produced editions that continue to this day.
