December 1st, 1768
First Edition
The first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica was published in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland.
First Volume
The first volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica was published in three parts in Edinburgh between 1768 and 1771. The full title was “Encyclopedia Britannica, or, A Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, Compiled upon a New Plan.” It was edited by William Smellie, an editor and naturalist.
Printed for 244 years, the Britannica was the longest-running in-print encyclopedia in the English language. It was first published between 1768 and 1771 in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, as three volumes. The encyclopedia grew in size: the second edition was 10 volumes, and by its fourth edition (1801–1810) it had expanded to 20 volumes.
The initial publication of the Encyclopedia Britannica was a groundbreaking work that aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of knowledge in various fields. Over the centuries, the encyclopedia has undergone numerous revisions and updates, and it remains one of the most well-known and widely used reference works in the world.
