Pasted into volume 11 of Encyclopaedia; or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature (Philadelphia: Thomas Dobson, 1798), this broadside appears to be the only surviving evidence of one of the most unusual private circulating libraries. It demonstrates the cultural importance of one encyclopedia and the lengths people might go to be able to purchase such an expensive item.
An entire society was set up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to circulate just one publication: Dobson’s multi-volume Encyclopaedia.
Published by Thomas Dobson from 1789 to 1798, Dobson’s Encyclopaedia was the first issued in the newly independent United States of America. Largely a reprint of the third edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (published 1788–97), Dobson’s was a slightly longer work in which a few articles were edited for a patriotic American audience. The original 18 volumes were published between 1792 and 1798, but a 3-volume supplement was published in 1803. Since the broadside refers to the encyclopedia as a 21-volume set, the broadside itself presumably was not printed before 1803.
The Portsmouth Encyclopedia Society’s constitution begins with a statement of purpose: “We whose names are undersigned have formed ourselves into a social society by the name of the Portsmouth Encyclopedia Society, for the purpose of possessing ourselves of one complete set of Dobson’s Edition of the Encyclopedia, consisting of twenty-one volumes.” Each member was entitled to an equal share of Dobson’s Encyclopaedia, which were exchanged during quarterly meetings: the 21 members corresponded with the 21 volumes in the encyclopedia. A committee would examine the books and “assess fines, in an impartial manner, in all cases where blots, torn leaves, or other damages, more than necessary wear shall in their judgment render it proper.” Fines would be issued for damages to the volumes, and a fine of one dollar was to be paid by those who failed to return their volume at the quarterly meeting. The society allowed members to transfer their share via sale to another individual living in Portsmouth. The final article stipulates that a “fair copy of the whole” of these regulations is to be pasted into each of the twelve volumes of Encyclopedia to “prevent all misunderstanding,” and one of these volumes so marked is now at AAS.
~ Elizabeth Pope, Curator of Books and Digital Collections
Who were the Portsmouth signers?
Hello, I previously did some research on this item for a previous owner. My response at that time was:
I have not seen this bookplate, nor has our librarian, Robin Silva. We do have a full set of Dobson’s Encyclopedia, but it does not have any book plates except our own. I cannot find any other references to the Encyclopedia Society, but there are some good clues as to where and when it would have originated. Charles Peirce was a Portsmouth bookseller who also ran a circulating library of books that weren’t selling – effectively a rent-a-book scheme. In 1802 he advertised that he had just imported two sets of the Encyclopedia from Philadelphia and was selling them for the princely sum of $182. Because the listing specifies 18 volumes, this would be the Encyclopedia Britannica, 3rd edition. By 1804 he advertises that he has encyclopedias of 21 volumes, which would be Dobson’s. In his 1806 catalog of his circulating and sale library, he has Dobson’s at $184, with the next highest price book at $27.
As you can imagine, the number of people able to pay that much for a book was pretty limited. Whether the Encyclopedia Society was started by Peirce himself as a way to amortize his losses, or by a group of enthusiasts who couldn’t afford the set individually may never be known. At least it is safe to say that it was founded after 1806 when Peirce was still trying to sell it, but not too long after, since the long S in printing was already falling out of use.
Please give my fondest regards to Earl. These days I mostly just hear him on the radio with Jennifer Rooks about Maine history. He has an uncanny command of facts on nearly any topic relating to Maine.
Sincerely,
Tom Hardiman
Thomas Hardiman, Keeper and Executive Director
Portsmouth Athenaeum
PO Box 366
Portsmouth, NH 03802-0366
603-431-2538
http://www.portsmouthathenaeum.org