London Encyclopaedia (1829)

The publication of the London Encyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Science, Art, Literature and Practical Mechanics: comprising a Popular View of the Present State of Knowledge was begun by London-based bookseller and publisher Thomas Tegg in 1825.

Thus, instead of appropriating the present profits of the undertaking, he has invariably thrown them back upon the work itself; and he trusts, improvement in the variety, the originality, and the accuracy of the articles in each department is visible to every reader.

...in all the essential requisites of science, literature, and good writing, the LONDON ENCYCLOPÆDIA is not inferior to any of its predecessors or contemporaries, while it combines in every branch all the improvements which are to be derived from its being the last in order of time.

Now that the work is thus far advanced, and its publication has been punctual and regular, the Proprietor trusts that those who hesitated to become purchasers, lest the speculation should fail, will no longer apprehend a result, to avert which, were it necessary, he would readily sacrifice all the property he possesses in the world.

There are still very large classes of the community to whom the LONDON ENCYCLOPÆDIA is unknown; they are not aware probably of its nature and object—that with a cheapness, which, but for the extensiveness of its sale, would injure the Publisher, it combines all that is essential and really important in works of three times its magnitude and price; and that it may be universally acceptable,—in all the great debatable points, which belong not properly to knowledge, because the opinions of the wisest and the best of men are at variance upon them, the Editor has taken the utmost care to avoid exciting either political or religious animosities.