Histoires

ENCYCLOPAEDIA AMERICANA. A Popular Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature, History, Politics and Biography. A New Edition Including a Copious Collection of Original Articles in American Biography.

14 Volumes. 8vo. 230 mm. Bound in original half leather over cloth boards; raised bands. Heads of a few volumes slighly chipped or worn, but still very tight. Handsome on the shelf and in the hand. Marbled edges and endpapers. Hardbound. Very good. Francis Lieber (1800-1872), an educator & political activist, was born and educated in Germany, emigrating to Boston in 1827. Not long after his arrival in the U.S., Lieber approached the firm of Carey Lea & Carey (of philadelphia) proposing a number of possible literary projects. Henry Carey agreed to sponsor an encyclopedia. It was a massive undertaking. Lieber modeled the work on Brockhaus' 'Conversations Lexikon' with appropriate portions adapted to its American audience. Publication of the original parts issue began in 1829. For this edition Lieber had the assistance of: Edward Wigglesworth (1804-1876); Thomas Gamaliel Bradford (1802-1887); Henry Vethake (1792-1866); and many others. Indeed, Lieber convinced many distinguished Americans to contribute appropriate sections to his enterprise. For example, Joseph Story, a famous federal judge and a founder of Harvard Law School, contributed over 120 pages on divers legal topics. **PRICE JUST REDUCED! BASEMENT