Thread by @natlibscot

*National Library digitises *entire* first edition of iconic encyclopaedia*
*Looks around nonchalantly*
*Posts link*
*Waits*
*Adds picture of nodding Kingfisher*

digital.nls.uk/encyclopaedia-… …

#Britannica250 #MondayMotivation @Britannica @nlsrarebooks

The Encyclopaedia Britannica is considered to be one of the enduring achievements of the Scottish Enlightenment.

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First issued in 1768, 'Britannica' has its origins in Edinburgh. It was published by Colin Macfarquhar (1744/5-1793), a printer, and engraver Andrew Bell (1725/6-1809).

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The first edition was issued in 100 weekly parts, which eventually took three years to produce, and when completed in 1771 it consisted of three volumes.

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Andrew Bell produced all 160 copperplate illustrations - he'd formerly established his reputation as an engraver for the the 'Scots Magazine',

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Modern science and Scottish identity were the two themes of the first edition of the Britannica. Articles were sometimes a *bit* lengthy — often running to more than 100 pages(!).

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At the National Library of Scotland we hold two sets of the first edition of 'Britannica', along with all subsequent 19th-century editions.

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Here's the link to the digitised copy on our website (in case you missed it above) > digital.nls.uk/encyclopaedia-…

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You can also read a nice article about the Britannica in our Discover Magazine (pages 14-16) > nls.uk/media/1672689/…

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Read our website article (which has all the facts in this thread and lots of helpful links) > nls.uk/collections/ra…

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But we guess you want to see pictures, right?

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Two camels and a sloth.

(This is not the beginning of a pun).

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Three dogs, a fox and a wolf

(There are five tales in this picture)

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Goat meets buck (and immediately gets trolled by bird).

This is what happens these days.

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A handy model of the solar system (or at least as was known at the time)...

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And a crocodile... obviously...

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And this lovely... bird...

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A salamander, a hare, a rabbit and a logarithmic curve walk into a bar...

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With your help we will continue to conserve, digitise and publish online the rare early editions of the 'Britannica'. We'd also like to make them the subject of special workshops and learning events. Find out how you can help > nls.uk/support-nls/ap…

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Rare Books curator Robert Betteridge talks about 250 years of the Encyclopaedia Britannica...

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This is a fascinating cross-section of a 'first-rate ship of war' - no doubt the HMS Surprise with Captain Jack Aubrey commanding 😉

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But of course the Encyclopaedia Britannica was also known for its amazing anatomical illustrations... for which we have to give them a hand (or at the very least several metacarpals)

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Make no bones about it, this skeleton is really rather fetching...

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And this is a lovely figure of a man... could do with a *bit* of skin, mind.

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*Jazz hands* 👍👍

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