Originally sponsored by the editor William Smellie, the engraver Andrew Bell, and Colin Macfarquahar the printer, this work was inspired by the success of Diderot's Encyclopedie. The first English-language compendium to be called an encyclopaedia. Unlike rival publications it was published in quarto rather than the usual octavo or folio format. More importantly the encyclopaedia was compiled on a completely new plan, alphabetically arranged, combining easy reference to individual items, terms and minor topics. Given the speed of publication and the small jack-of-all-trades team involved, the...