Encyclopaedia Cambrensis

The Encyclopaedia Cambrensis or Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig was the most ambitious encyclopedia in the Welsh language. It was published in ten volumes between 1854 and 1879 by Thomas Gee on his press in the town of Denbigh, Gwasg Gee.[1] The general editor was John Parry, Gee 's brother in-law and lecturer at the College of Bala.[2] It remains the largest paper publication in Welsh today.

The project cost about Gee about £20,000.[3] That was a huge sum at that time amounted to about £1,000,000 today.[4]

Description

The Encyclopaedia Cambrensis includes nearly 9,000 pages in double columns. While the number of articles relating to the Bible and theology is significantly higher than expected in such a reference work today, it also includes a large number of biographical articles, articles on Welsh history and literature, science, geography and other Celtic nations.

Among the numerous contributors were Owen Morgan Edwards and John Morris-Jones. The article that the latter contributed on the Welsh language was used as a basis for his A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative.

References

  1. ↑ Gee Printing Company Records
  2. ↑ PARRY , JOHN at the Dictionary of Welsh Biography
  3. ↑ GEE , THOMAS
  4. ↑ Barn Archived February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
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