ENCYCLOPAEDIA; or, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous

1798. ENCYCLOPAEDIA; or, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature... Phila.: Printed by Thomas Dobson, 1798. 1st ed. 18 Vols. 4to. Contemporary full tree calf, gilt decorated spines, red morocco spine labels. Frontis in Vol. One, 528 plates (including 7 folding plates), 12 maps (including 3 folding maps), folding table. Library bookplates on front pastedowns, scattered small library stamps, some wear to spine ends, minor scraping to leather, some hinges tender, very old water stains in some volumes, light scattered foxing and toning, lacking six plates (110, 219, 237, 254, 257, 473), else a very good set. [with] Supplement to the Encyclopaedia, or Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature. Phila.: Printed by Budd and Bartram, for Thomas Dobson, 1803. 1st ed. 3 Vols. 4to. All 53 plates. Contemporary full calf, elaborate gilt spine, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, edges gilt-chamfered. Some wear to spine ends, corners, minor scraping to calf, outer hinges starting, very old waterstain to early leaves of Vol. One, else internally rather clean set. Evans 33693-33676. Though based on the third edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, this work has much original matter, including articles written by Americans. Dobson objected to the Edinburgh original's British biases and edited much of them out. "From every standpoint the highest achievement in Colonial bookmaking. The whole work, illustrations, type, and paper (and content) shows an achievement of professional craftsmen working together for an enlightened publisher. The first American book on anything like such a scale, Dobson's work marks the end of printing in America as a household craft and the beginning of its (modern) development." Evans 22486.