Release of the Encyclopædia Britannica

Date: December 10, 1768 • Location: Rome, Italy

The first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1768–1771) was a work of reference published in three volumes in quarto. It was founded by Colin Macfarquhar and Andrew Bell, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was initially sold unbound in installments over the course of three years. Almost all of the articles were compiled by William Smellie, while Macfarquhar handled printing and Bell the copperplates.