![]() ![]() ![]() Starting with the 11th edition and following its acquisition by an American firm, the Britannica shortened and simplified articles to broaden its appeal to the North American market. Its rising stature as a scholarly work helped recruit eminent contributors, and the 9th (1875–1889) and 11th editions (1911) are landmark encyclopaedias for scholarship and literary style. The encyclopaedia grew in size: the second edition was 10 volumes, and by its fourth edition (1801–1810) it had expanded to 20 volumes. It was first published between 17 in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, as three volumes. Printed for 244 years, the Britannica was the longest running in-print encyclopaedia in the English language. Since 2011, it is being published exclusively as an online encyclopaedia. The 2010 version of the 15th edition, which spans 32 volumes and 32,640 pages, was the last printed edition. The encyclopaedia is maintained by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 contributors. the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various times through the centuries. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The company is marking the end of its print edition by offering the contents of its website for free to users for one week, starting yesterday.The Encyclopædia Britannica ( Latin for "British Encyclopaedia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. "Whereas our online edition is updated continuously." "A printed encyclopedia is obsolete the minute that you print it," Cauz said. Online versions of the encyclopedia are now used by around 100m people worldwide.īritannica has a staff of more than 100 editors, backed up by a network of expert contributors around the world, including high-profile figures such as ex-US president Bill Clinton and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Īs many people now have access to the internet on computers and connected devices, the concept of a printed reference guide feels increasingly outmoded.īritannica said that it wants to move with its customers, but also the shift to digital enables the firm to continuously update the encyclopedia. The company began digital publishing in the late 1980s with CD-ROM versions of the books, before going online in 1994. The final hardcover copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica set is available now for purchase from Britannica's website, priced at $1,395 (£894).Ĭauz said that printed sales of the box set peaked in 1990 with 120,000 sets sold, but that number had declined to just 40,000 six years later. This has to do with the fact that now Britannica sells its digital products to a large number of people." Speaking to reporters, he said: "This has nothing to do with Wikipedia or Google. The Chicago-based company now generates 85% of its revenue from digital sales, and also recently started offering a digital encyclopedia for tablet computers.Įncyclopedia Britannica president Jorge Cauz said that the sales of printed editions, first published in Edinburgh in 1768, have been "negligible for several years". The Encyclopedia Britannica has decided to stop publishing its weighty 32-volume print editions after 244 years, and instead focus on digital.īritannica previously made money by selling encyclopedias door-to-door, but it has faced growing competition from the likes of Google and Wikipedia. ![]()
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