Pantologia
Encyclopedia
Pantologia was an English
encyclopedia, published in 12 volumes, 8vo in 1813, with 370 plates (some coloured). Its full title page was A New Cyclopedia, comprehending a complete series of Essays, Treatises and Systems, alphabetically arranged, with a general dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Words: the whole representing a distinct Survey of Human Genius, Learning and Industry, illustrated with elegant engravings; those on Natural History being from original drawings by Edwards and others, and beautifully coloured after nature ...
, Olinthus Gregory
, and Newton Bosworth, as well as other anonymous writers. Work had begun in 1802, by Gregory and Bosworth and an anonmyous writer, who gave up after about a year. They were later joined by Good. The Preface lists the subjects for which each editor was responsible. The appearance of rival works held up publication for some years. The work was published serially, and the dates on the plates indicate the first sections were published in 1808.
191 of the plates related to natural history, and the balance to miscellaneous subjects. A number of the latter, dealing with manufacture and inventions, were drawn by John Farey, Jr.
, and engraved by Wilson Lowry
The natural history drawings were mainly by Sydenham Edwards
. A feature of the plates relating to engineering and manufacture was the use by Farey of the drawings of John Smeaton
as the basis for his work.
Complete sets are now rare. Book dealers have been in the habit of removing the coloured plates for use in interior decorating, and scrapping the rest.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
encyclopedia, published in 12 volumes, 8vo in 1813, with 370 plates (some coloured). Its full title page was A New Cyclopedia, comprehending a complete series of Essays, Treatises and Systems, alphabetically arranged, with a general dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Words: the whole representing a distinct Survey of Human Genius, Learning and Industry, illustrated with elegant engravings; those on Natural History being from original drawings by Edwards and others, and beautifully coloured after nature ...
History and editorship
The editors were John Mason GoodJohn Mason Good
John Mason Good , English writer on medical, religious and classical subjects, was born at Epping, Essex.John Good's parents were the Nonconformist minister Revd Peter Good and Sarah Good, the daughter of another Nonconformist minister, Revd Henry Peyto of Great Coggeshall...
, Olinthus Gregory
Olinthus Gregory
Olinthus Gilbert Gregory was an English mathematician, author and editor.He was born on 29 January 1774 at Yaxley in Huntingdonshire. Having been educated by Richard Weston, a Leicester botanist, in 1793 he published a treatise, Lessons Astronomical and Philosophical...
, and Newton Bosworth, as well as other anonymous writers. Work had begun in 1802, by Gregory and Bosworth and an anonmyous writer, who gave up after about a year. They were later joined by Good. The Preface lists the subjects for which each editor was responsible. The appearance of rival works held up publication for some years. The work was published serially, and the dates on the plates indicate the first sections were published in 1808.
191 of the plates related to natural history, and the balance to miscellaneous subjects. A number of the latter, dealing with manufacture and inventions, were drawn by John Farey, Jr.
John Farey, Jr.
-Biography.:Farey was the eldest son of John Farey, Sr., the geologist, and was born at Lambeth, London on March 20, 1791. Details of his education are obscure, but he undertook a systematic study of the manufacturing industry of London between 1804-5...
, and engraved by Wilson Lowry
Wilson Lowry
Wilson Lowry FRS was an English engraver. He was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland, the son of Strickland Lowry, a portrait painter. The family settled in Worcester, and Wilson Lowry, as a boy, left home to work as a house painter in London and Arundel, Sussex...
The natural history drawings were mainly by Sydenham Edwards
Sydenham Edwards
Sydenham Teast Edwards was a natural history illustrator.Edwards was born in 1768 in Usk, Monmouthshire, the son of Lloyd Pittell Edwards, a schoolmaster and organist, and his wife, Mary Reese, who had been married on 26 September 1765 at Llantilio Crossenny Church and where Sydenham was...
. A feature of the plates relating to engineering and manufacture was the use by Farey of the drawings of John Smeaton
John Smeaton
John Smeaton, FRS, was an English civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses. He was also a capable mechanical engineer and an eminent physicist...
as the basis for his work.
Seven advantages over rivals
The editors claimed in the Preface [ix] that the work had seven advantages over rivals:- It explained English words as well as those of the Arts and Sciences, so avoiding the need to have a separate dictionary.
- It appended English names to the Linneian ones in the Natural History section, so helping non-scientific readers.
- It had a more up to date arrangement of Mineralogy, reflecting modern concepts of the field.
- References were given at the ends of the more important articles.
- The Natural History plates were coloured.
- To permit the greatest amount of text to be included, longer articles were in small print.
- It included accounts of Sports, Games, Recreations and Pastimes, including the rules by which they were conducted.
Complete sets are now rare. Book dealers have been in the habit of removing the coloured plates for use in interior decorating, and scrapping the rest.