British Encyclopaedia
Encyclopedia
The British Encyclopaedia, or Dictionary of Arts and Sciences was published in 1809 in six octavo
volumes and around 150 plates.
It was nominally edited by William Nicholson
, but the bulk of the work was overseen by Jeremiah Joyce
. It was published by a syndicate of twenty four booksellers whose names appear on the title pages. Each purchased shares and in due time received a proportional profit from the eventual sales. This method of publishing was common in the 18th and early 19th century and was known as a conger
. It was particularly suited to part works such as encyclopaedias.
Some of the plates were drawn by John Farey, Jr.
, and engraved by Wilson Lowry
.
Octavo
Octavo to is a technical term describing the format of a book.Octavo may also refer to:* Octavo is a grimoire in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett...
volumes and around 150 plates.
It was nominally edited by William Nicholson
William Nicholson (chemist)
William Nicholson was a renowned English chemist and writer on "natural philosophy" and chemistry, as well as a translator, journalist, publisher, scientist, and inventor.-Early life:...
, but the bulk of the work was overseen by Jeremiah Joyce
Jeremiah Joyce
-Life:He was born 24 February 1763 at Mildred's Court London. He became a glazier, but on the death of his father he used his inheritance to study for the Unitarian ministry, where he became proficient in mathematics and Latin...
. It was published by a syndicate of twenty four booksellers whose names appear on the title pages. Each purchased shares and in due time received a proportional profit from the eventual sales. This method of publishing was common in the 18th and early 19th century and was known as a conger
Conger (syndicate)
The conger was a system common in bookselling in 18th and early 19th century England, for financing the printing of a book. The term referred to a syndicate of booksellers, mostly in London, who bought shares to finance the book's printing. Each member agreed to take so many copies for sale...
. It was particularly suited to part works such as encyclopaedias.
Some of the plates were drawn by John Farey, Jr.
John Farey, Jr.
-Biography.:Farey was the eldest son of John Farey, Sr., the geologist, and was born at Lambeth, London on March 20, 1791. Details of his education are obscure, but he undertook a systematic study of the manufacturing industry of London between 1804-5...
, and engraved by Wilson Lowry
Wilson Lowry
Wilson Lowry FRS was an English engraver. He was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland, the son of Strickland Lowry, a portrait painter. The family settled in Worcester, and Wilson Lowry, as a boy, left home to work as a house painter in London and Arundel, Sussex...
.