Difference between revisions of "Encyclopaedia, or, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature"
From Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Encyclopaedia, | + | {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Encyclopaedia, or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature''}} |
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
{{BookPageInfoBox | {{BookPageInfoBox | ||
|imagename=EncyclopaediaDictionary1798.jpg | |imagename=EncyclopaediaDictionary1798.jpg | ||
|link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3466232 | |link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3466232 | ||
| − | |shorttitle=Encyclopaedia, | + | |shorttitle=Encyclopaedia, or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature |
| − | |vol=volume | + | |vol=volume eight |
|author=Thomas Dobson | |author=Thomas Dobson | ||
|lang=English | |lang=English | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
|year=1798 | |year=1798 | ||
|set=18 | |set=18 | ||
| − | }}[[File: | + | }}[[File:DobsonDictionary1798v9Illustration.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<center>Lacerta, plate CCIXI, volume nine.</center>]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dobson_%28printer%29 Thomas Dobson] (c.1751-1823) was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, but immigrated to the United States with his wife and three daughters in 1783. Dobson operated a thriving printing shop in Philadelphia. He printed many notable works, but his claim to fame was sealed by his publication of the first American encyclopedia.<br /> |
<br /> | <br /> | ||
Dobson’s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobson%27s_Encyclop%C3%A6dia ''Encyclopaedia''] was largely a copy of the third edition ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', which had been published the year before, but Dobson sought to dispel what he perceived to be a British bias. The most notable differences were in regards to American geography and history, such as the surrender of the British in the American Revolution.<ref>Robert Arner, ''Dobson’s Encyclopaedia: The Publisher, Text, and Publication of America’s First Britannica, 1789-1803'' (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991).</ref> The encyclopedia was a hit amongst American scholars. Purchasers of the work included famous leaders, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington George Washington], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton Alexander Hamilton].<ref>James M. Wells, The Circle of Knowledge: Encyclopaedias Past and Present (Chicago: Newberry Library, 1968).</ref> | Dobson’s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobson%27s_Encyclop%C3%A6dia ''Encyclopaedia''] was largely a copy of the third edition ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', which had been published the year before, but Dobson sought to dispel what he perceived to be a British bias. The most notable differences were in regards to American geography and history, such as the surrender of the British in the American Revolution.<ref>Robert Arner, ''Dobson’s Encyclopaedia: The Publisher, Text, and Publication of America’s First Britannica, 1789-1803'' (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991).</ref> The encyclopedia was a hit amongst American scholars. Purchasers of the work included famous leaders, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington George Washington], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton Alexander Hamilton].<ref>James M. Wells, The Circle of Knowledge: Encyclopaedias Past and Present (Chicago: Newberry Library, 1968).</ref> | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:DobsonDictionary1798v10Illustration4.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<center>Mechanics, plate CCLXXXIX, volume ten.</center>]] |
| − | |||
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ||
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "American Encyclopedia. 18.v. 4to." and kept by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. He later sold a copy to the Library of Congress.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ""Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'' 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 5:150-151 (no.4891).</ref> Both [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe "Member: George Wythe"], accessed on April 21, 2013.</ref> on LibraryThing and the [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> suggests the copy Jefferson sold may have been Wythe's copy. Brown also notes a second copy of this set owned by Jefferson and sold by his grandson, Francis Eppes in 1873. | Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "American Encyclopedia. 18.v. 4to." and kept by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. He later sold a copy to the Library of Congress.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ""Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'' 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 5:150-151 (no.4891).</ref> Both [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe "Member: George Wythe"], accessed on April 21, 2013.</ref> on LibraryThing and the [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> suggests the copy Jefferson sold may have been Wythe's copy. Brown also notes a second copy of this set owned by Jefferson and sold by his grandson, Francis Eppes in 1873. | ||
| − | + | [[File:EncyclopaediaDictionary1798v14Illustration.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<center>Passions, plate CCCLXXIX, volume fourteen.</center>]] | |
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy== | ==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy== | ||
| − | Bound in original full calf with black and red spine compartments | + | Bound in original full calf with black and red spine compartments. Bears the owner's signature of Josiah Calef on the title page of volume eight. Purchased from Charles Thomas. |
View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3466232 William & Mary's online catalog.] | View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3466232 William & Mary's online catalog.] | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 24 March 2014
| Encyclopaedia, or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature | |
 Title page from Encyclopaedia, or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, volume eight, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Thomas Dobson |
| Published | Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas Dobson |
| Date | 1798 |
| Language | English |
| Volumes | 18 volume set |
Dobson’s Encyclopaedia was largely a copy of the third edition Encyclopaedia Britannica, which had been published the year before, but Dobson sought to dispel what he perceived to be a British bias. The most notable differences were in regards to American geography and history, such as the surrender of the British in the American Revolution.[1] The encyclopedia was a hit amongst American scholars. Purchasers of the work included famous leaders, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton.[2]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "American Encyclopedia. 18.v. 4to." and kept by Thomas Jefferson. He later sold a copy to the Library of Congress.[3] Both George Wythe's Library[4] on LibraryThing and the Brown Bibliography[5] suggests the copy Jefferson sold may have been Wythe's copy. Brown also notes a second copy of this set owned by Jefferson and sold by his grandson, Francis Eppes in 1873.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in original full calf with black and red spine compartments. Bears the owner's signature of Josiah Calef on the title page of volume eight. Purchased from Charles Thomas.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ Robert Arner, Dobson’s Encyclopaedia: The Publisher, Text, and Publication of America’s First Britannica, 1789-1803 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991).
- ↑ James M. Wells, The Circle of Knowledge: Encyclopaedias Past and Present (Chicago: Newberry Library, 1968).
- ↑ E. Millicent Sowerby, ""Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 5:150-151 (no.4891).
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe", accessed on April 21, 2013.
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
