Published by the joint-stock publishing company F. A. Brockhaus - I. A. Efron (St. Petersburg, 1890-1907, 82 main and 4 additional volumes; the first 8 volumes edited by I. E. Andrievsky, the rest - edited by K. K. Arsenyev and F. F. Petrushevsky). In 1899-1902, the “Small Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron” was published (in 3 volumes) and in 1907-1909 the second edition in 4 volumes. In 1911-1916, the “New Encyclopedic Dictionary” was published (29 volumes out of the planned 48 were published). The encyclopedia contains 121,240 articles, 7,800 illustrations, 235 maps.
The encyclopedia was originally intended to be a translation of the German " Conversations-Lexicon"with a slight adaptation for the Russian public. However, this approach did not justify itself, and the first volumes caused a lot of complaints. In addition, the general management of the publication left much to be desired.
A new period in the history of the encyclopedia began with the invitation to the editorial staff of many outstanding scientists and philosophers of that time: D.I. Mendeleev, Vl. S. Solovyov, S. A. Vengerov, A. N. Beketov, A. I. Voeikova and many others.
From this moment on, “Conversations-Lexicon” fades into the background and the main place is given to independent articles, especially on all issues related to Russia, its history, culture, geography.

The displacement of translated articles by original ones and the emergence of new authors affected the very nature of the publication: from a trivial encyclopedia it turned into a collection of the latest achievements and discoveries in all fields of science and technology. Reading an article about the periodic table of chemical elements, you wonder why there is not a word about D.I. Mendeleev, and only after reading to the end do you learn that such an injustice to the great chemist was committed by him himself.
Another important advantage of the encyclopedia is its free manner of presentation. Elements of fiction are found not only in biographical articles, many of which read like exciting stories, but also in scientific ones. In many ways, such looseness in the presentation of material is also a consequence of the involvement of the most prominent scientists of that time in writing articles, because, as you know, only someone who is fluent in this field can explain something most clearly. Moreover, at that time it was not customary to edit articles, “combing” them with one brush, and the author’s style remained untouched.
For today Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron is in the public domain: although in scientific and technical terms the encyclopedia is already very outdated, many of its articles are still of exceptional historical value.

Knowledge and wisdom, accumulated over centuries, are now compressed into volumes of dictionaries and encyclopedias. The famous "French Encyclopedia", created through the efforts of Diderot and d'Alembert, is known all over the world, and many Gallic philosophers who took part in it were called encyclopedists. No less famous is Britannica, the Encyclopedia Britannica, a national treasure and source of pride for the British. In the everyday life of educated Germans, this role was played by the “Big Brockhaus” (there was also a “Small” Brockhaus). Russia has its own “Brockhaus” - “Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron.”

FAMILY AFFAIR

It appeared 107 years ago, but many of its articles are still not outdated - moreover, they are more interesting and more thorough than similar pages from encyclopedias created later. In the nineties of the twentieth century, the encyclopedia experienced a rebirth: having a reprint edition of the Brockhaus and Efron dictionary twenty years ago was the ultimate dream of an educated person. The digital age reader also enjoys using a dictionary, and even many Wikipedia articles are based on it.

Two names - Brockhaus and Efron - have merged for us into a kind of whole; they seem to us to be co-authors, like Ilf and Petrov, the Goncourt brothers or the Strugatsky brothers. However, oddly enough, Friedrich-Arnold Brockhaus and Ilya Abramovich Efron did not know each other, and they could not have known each other, because they lived not only in different countries, but also in different times.

Friedrich-Arnold Brockhaus

It all started outside of Russia in the era of Napoleon and Goethe. The venerable German merchant Friedrich-Arnold Brockhaus opened a wholesale trade in English goods in Dortmund in 1795, and in 1802 he transferred it to Amsterdam. However, the timing was most unfortunate for trading with England. The case had to be closed due to the continental blockade: Britain, as you know, was an implacable enemy of Bonaparte, Europe was covered by the shadow of the Napoleonic empire, and thus English goods did not have access to the European market since 1806, difficulties began even earlier, in 1804. Therefore, Brockhaus was forced to switch to the book trade, and this is largely the fault - or merit - of Emperor Napoleon. The merchant founded an enterprise for publishing and trading German books in 1805 in Amsterdam. He tried to publish magazines in Dutch, German and French. The times were turbulent, Europe was engulfed in wars, and censorship was rampant. Soon Brockhaus moved his activities to Germany - to the city of Altenburg, and then to Leipzig.

In 1808, Brockhaus bought the rights to the Conversations Lexikon, begun in 1796, and carried out its first edition in 1809–1811, adding two additional volumes to it. The release of this encyclopedia, which was nicknamed "Brockhaus", or "Big Brockhaus", brought the greatest success to his enterprise. The encyclopedia went through 14 editions in the 19th century. In 1814, the publishing company was named after the surname of the founder - “F.A. Brockhaus." She published newspapers, almanacs, philosophical works and, of course, dictionaries.

All his life, Friedrich Arnold fought for freedom of the press, against censorship, and did not always emerge victorious from this struggle. It is believed that a life full of worries undermined the health of the famous publisher, and he died at the age of 50. One of Brockhaus’s grandchildren subsequently wrote a book about Brockhaus’s life.

The publishing house passed into the hands of his eldest sons, Friedrich and Heinrich, and grew and prospered. “Library of German National Literature” and “Library of Foreign Authors in Original Languages” were published. In the first half of the 19th century, the company traded in Leipzig and Paris. The enterprise was passed on to the grandchildren, and then to the great-grandchildren. The business expanded steadily: branches were opened in London and Vienna. "F. Brockhaus is one of those reputable and respected German companies that were created to last. Essays on the history of the publishing house over 100 years were published as a separate volume.

In 1890, a new branch of the mighty trunk arose: the joint venture Brockhaus and Efron was created in St. Petersburg. Brockhaus's descendants became partners of Ilya Efron, a Russian publisher and educator born in 1847 in the city of Vilna.

GREAT GRANDSON OF THE GREAT RABBI

The Jewish community of Vilna was so large and influential that the city was called the “Jerusalem of the north.” Ilya Efron came from an ancient and respectable family. His great-grandfather was the famous not only in Vilna, but also beyond its borders, Rabbi Eliyahu Gaon, a theologian and indisputable authority in matters of faith. He was an ascetic, he slept, according to his family, no more than two hours a day, devoting the rest of his time to science - the study of the Talmud and other sacred books. In the 1760s, he lectured to Talmudic scholars and became the most famous expert in book wisdom. The rabbi did not hold official positions, but the community paid him considerable money for his wisdom, knowledge and advice. He possessed enormous spiritual authority, his disciples wrote down his sayings, but he himself, like many sages of antiquity, did not keep notes.

Ilya Abramovich Efron

His grandson Abram Efron was a businessman and also studied the holy books of the Jews. He owns the religious and philosophical work “The Source of Laws.” According to the memoirs of Vera Efron, a modern representative of the famous family, Abram was a merchant of the first guild and received the title of honorary citizen of Russia. He took care to give his son a decent education, and the years of study began not in the gymnasium, but at home.

Ilya was named after his great-grandfather: Ilya - Eliyahu. And it is no coincidence: his great-grandfather’s thirst for knowledge and determination were fully transmitted to him. Home education gave brilliant results: Ilya passed the exams and received a certificate at the gymnasium of the city of Lomza in Poland, and continued his studies at the Warsaw Main School (now the University of Warsaw). During the liberal reign of Alexander II, national policies were relaxed, and there were practically no restrictions on the admission of Jews to higher education. After completing the course, Ilya Efron went to St. Petersburg and followed in his father’s footsteps: he went into commerce.

Was publishing his lifelong dream? Hard to say. Actually, Ilya started in a completely different field: he was involved in railway contracts. One thing is obvious: Ilya Efron’s life was turned upside down by his acquaintance with Semyon Vengerov, an outstanding literary critic and editor, a real knight of literature. Vengerov was convinced that Russian literature has a “heroic” and “preachy” character. His intellectual influence became decisive for the fate of Ilya Efron.

The last head of the Brockhaus-Efron company, Aron Perelman, spoke about the meeting of these outstanding people: “A railway contractor and a grunder (entrepreneur of the industrial era. - Auto.) by nature, Ilya Abramovich Efron was interested in publishing by chance - S.A. Vengerov, who temporarily worked in the management of the railway, in which Efron was one of the prominent shareholders. And this railroad contractor turned out to be an outstanding publisher. He created one of the largest and most cultural book publishing houses in Russia. For the sake of publishing, Efron abandoned all his other enterprises and devoted himself entirely to this new business for him.”

Ilya Abramovich purchased a printing house in St. Petersburg in 1880 - this inconspicuous three-story house on Prachechny Lane has survived to this day. Joint Stock Company “F.A. Brockhaus - I.A. Efron” did not arise immediately, but only nine years later. Ilya Abramovich’s business sense did not let him down. Cooperation with a German company allowed us to achieve commercial success. Of course, times were not easy for book publishing: after the assassination of Alexander II, censorship was very picky, and the attitude towards “foreigners” was suspicious. However, Belinsky also used to say that censorship is like a spider’s web: small flies get entangled in it, big flies break through it.

Olga Butkova

Read the continuation in No. 02, 2015 of the magazine “Secrets and Crimes”

Second edition in 4 volumes.

New encyclopedic dictionary

The article Cancer prescribes radical surgery and says that cancer cannot be cured by any other means. This is at odds with modern ideas.

Cocaine and morphine, according to ESBE, are drugs for ARVI (in terms of ESBE, acute runny nose).

Editions

encyclopedic Dictionary

86 half-volumes (82 main and 4 additional) The numbers of half-volumes are indicated in parentheses.

• T. 1 (1): A - Altai. - 1890. - 4, 480 s., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 1A (2): Altai - Aragway. - 1890. - 2, 481-954, II p., 19 l. ill., map.
• T. 2 (3): Arago - Outka. - 1890. - 2, 478, 2 s, 17 l. ill., map.
• T. 2A (4): Auto - Banks. - 1891. - 4, 479-946, 2 p., 19 l. ill., map.
• T. 3 (5): Banks - Berger. - 1891. - 2, 480 s., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 3A (6): Berger - Encores. - 1891. - 2, 481-956 p., 3 l. ill., map.
• T. 4 (7): Bitburg - Bosch. - 1891. - 4, VIII, 472 pp., 6 l. ill., map.
• T. 4A (8): Bos - Bunchuk. - 1891. - 6, VI, 473-940 p., 7 l. ill..
• T. 5 (9): Buny - Walter. - 1891. - 4, IV, 468, XII p., 5 l. ill.
• T. 5A (10): Walter - Venuti. - 1892. - 4, 469-938, 2 p., 8 l. ill.
• T. 6 (11): Venzano - Vinona. - 1892. - 4, II, 488, 2 p., 7 l. ill., map.
• T. 6A (12): Wine literature - Volan. - 1892. - 6, 489-944, 2 p., 15 l. ill., map.
• T. 7 (13): Volapyuk - Vygovsky. - 1892. - 4, 480 s., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 7A (14): Vygovsky - Galban. - 1892. - 8, 481-952, 4, 4 p., 4 l. ill.
• T. 8 (15): Galberg - Germany. - 1892. - 6, 478, 2 s, 10 l. ill.
• T. 8A (16): Germany - Go. - 1893. - 8, 479-958, II, 2 p. 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 9 (17): Goa - Engraver. - 1893. - 6, 474 p., 13 l. ill.
• T. 9A (18): Gravilat - Davenant. - 1893. - 8, 475-974, II, 2 p., 17 l. ill., map.
• T. 10 (19): Davenport - Desmin. - 1893. - 4, 480 s., 2 l. ill.
• T. 10A (20): Desmurgy - Domitian. - 1893. - 481-960, II p., 8 p. ill., map.
• T. 11 (21): Domitii - Evreinova. - 1893. - 6, 466 p., 9 l. ill., map.
• T. 11A (22): Evreinovs - Zhilon. - 1894. - 4, 467-958, II, 2 p., 11 l. ill., map.
• T. 12 (23): Veins - Sempach. - 1894. - 6, 480 s., 11 l. ill., map.
• T. 12A (24): Semper - Imidoacids. - 1894. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 6 l. ill.
• T. 13 (25): Imidoesters - Historical school. - 1894. - 8, 480 p., 7 l. ill., map.
• T. 13A (26): Historical magazines - Kalaidovich. - 1894. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 7 l. ill., map.
• T. 14 (27): Kalaka - Kardam. - 1895. - 4, 480 s., 8 l. ill., map.
• T. 14A (28): Kardanakhi - Kero. - 1895. - 6, 481-960, II, II p., 5 p. ill.
• T. 15 (29): Kerosene - Koaye. - 1895. - 6, 478 p., 8 l. ill., map.
• T. 15A (30): Koala - Concordia. - 1895. - 2, II, 2, 479-960, II p., 9 l. ill., map.
• T. 16 (31): Concord - Koyalovich. - 1895. - 6, 480 s., 11 l. ill., map.
• T. 16A (32): Koyalovich - Kulon. - 1895. - 6, 481-960, II, 2 p., 16 l. ill., map.
• T. 17 (33): Kultagoy - Ice. - 1896. - 4, 482 pp., 16 l. ill., map.
• T. 17A (34): Ledier - Loparev. - 1896. - 6, 483-960, II, 2 p., 15 l. ill., map.
• T. 18 (35): Lapps - Juvenile criminals. - 1896. - 4, 480 s., 16 l. ill., map.
• T. 18A (36): Early childhood - Meishagola. - 1896. - 6, 481-958, II, 2 p., 7 l. ill.
• T. 19 (37): Mekenen - Mifu-Banya. - 1896. - 4, 476 p., 12 l. ill., map.
• T. 19A (38): Michael's Order - Moscow Telegraph. - 1896. - 6, 477-960, II, 2 p., 21 l. ill., map.
• T. 20 (39): Moscow University - Corrective punishments. - 1897. - 6, 480 s., 20 l. ill., map.
• T. 20A (40): Punishment chieftain - Owl. - 1897. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 14 l. ill., map.
• T. 21 (41): Nibelungs - Näffzer. - 1897. - 4, 480 s., 17 l. ill., map.
• T. 21A (42): Nashville - Opatsky. - 1897. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 30 l. ill., map.
• T. 22 (43): Guardianship - Outsider. - 1897. - 4, 480 s., 18 l. ill., map.
• T. 22A (44): Owen - Patent on fights. - 1897. - 6, 481-960, II p., 27 l. ill., map.
• T. 23 (45): Patents for inventions - Petropavlovsky. -1898. - 4, 474 s, 15 l. ill., map.
• T. 23A (46): Petropavlovsky - Povatazhnoe. - 1898. - 4, II, 475-958, II, 2 p., 20 l. ill., map.
• T. 24 (47): Imperative mood - Polar coordinates. - 1898. - 4, 474 pp., 18 l. ill., map.
• T. 24A (48): Polar lights - Praia. - 1898. - 4, II, 475-958, II, 2 p., 11 l. ill., map., table.
• T. 25 (49): Prayaga - Delay in vacation. - 1898. - 4, 478 pp., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 25A (50): Prostatitis - Workhouse. - 1898. - 4, II, 2, 479-958, II, 2 p.
• T. 26 (51): Workbook - Resolution. - 1899. - 6, 480 s., 10 l. ill.
• T. 26A (52): Resonance and resonators - Rosa di Tivoli. - 1899. - 4, II, 481-960, II, 2 p., 13 l. ill., map.
• T. 27 (53): Rosaven - Turnip. - 1899. - 6, 480 s., 22 l. ill.
• T. 27A (54): Repina - Ryasskoe and Russia. - 1899. - 4, II, 481-532, 1-420, IV p. 51 l. ill., map., table.
• T. 28 (55): Russia and S - Savarna. - 1899. - 6, 421-874, IV, 2, 1-24 p., 16 l. ill., map., table.
• T. 28A (56): Savarni - Sakharon. - 1900. - 4, II, 25-496, II pp., 15 l. ill., map.
• T. 29 (57): Sugar - Seven Wise Men. - 1900. - 8, 468 s, 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 29A (58): Seven Lakes - Symphony. - 1900. - 4, II, 469-954, II, 2 pp., 16 l. ill., map.
• T. 30 (59): Sim - Slyuzka. - 1900. - 4, 2, 480 pp., 9 l. ill., map.
• T. 30A (60): Slyuz - Sofia Paleolog. - 1900. - 4, II, 481-960, II, 2 p., 22 p. ill., map., table.
• T. 31 (61): Sofia - Statics. - 1900. - 6, 472 s., 11 l. ill., map.
• T. 31A (62): Statics - Judicial system. - 1901. - 4, II, 473-954, II, 2 p., 10 l. ill.
• T. 32 (63): Shipping fees - Taitsy. - 1901. - 4, 480 s., 14 l. ill., map.
• T. 32A (64): Tai - Termites. - 1901. - 4, II, 481-960, II, 2 p., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 33 (65): Thermal sensations - Tombasi. - 1901. - 4, 478 s., 25 l. ill., map.
• T. 33A (66): Tombigbi - Trula Cathedral. - 1901. - 4, II, 479-960, II, 2 p., 5 l. ill., map.
• T. 34 (67): Trump - Calcium carbon. - 1901. - 4, 482 s., 5 l. ill., map.
• T. 34A (68): Carbon - Effort. - 1902. - 6, II, IV, 483-960, II, 2 p., 16 l. ill.
• T. 35 (69): Usinsk border district - Phenol. - 1902. - 4, 476 s., 7 l. ill., map.
• T. 35A (70): Phenols - Finland. - 1902. - 4, II, 477-960, II p., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 36 (71): Finland - Franconia. - 1902. - 4, 478 p., 15 l. ill., map.
• T. 36A (72): Franconian dynasty - Khaki. - 1902. - 4, II, 479-956, II, 2 p., 12 l. ill., map.
• T. 37 (73): Hakim - Khodorov. - 1903. - 6, 478 p., 18 l. ill., map.
• T. 37A (74): Chodsky - Censorship. - 1903. - 2, II, 479-962, II, 2 p., 11 l. ill., map.
• T. 38 (75): Censorship Committee - Man. - 1903. - 4, 482 p., 9 l. ill.
• T. 38A (76): Man - Chuguevsky regiment. - 1903. - 6, II, 483-958, 2, 2 p., 10 l. ill., map.
• T. 39 (77): Chuguev - Shen. - 1903. - 6, 480 s., 7 l. ill., map.
• T. 39A (78): Chenier - Shuisky Monastery. - 1903. - 4, II, 481-960, II p., 6 p. ill.
• T. 40 (79): Shuiskoye - Electrical excitability. - 1904. - 4, 4, 468 pp., 9 l. ill.
• T. 40A (80): Electrical excitatory force - Ergotin. - 1904. - 4, II, 469-954, 2 p., 13 l. ill.
• T. 41 (81): Erdan - Egg production. - 1904. - 4, 576 p., 7 l. ill., map.
• T. 41A (82): Oviduct - V. - 1904. - 6, IV, 577-956, 4 p., 6 l. ill., cart., 28 l. portrait

Additional volumes:

• T. 1 (1): Aa - Wood Pigeon. - 1905. - 4, 478 p., 6 l. ill., map.
• T. 1A (2): The Hague Conference - Kochubey. - 1905. - 4, 481-956, II, 2 pp. 3 l. ill., map.
• T. 2 (3): Koshbukh - Prusik. - 1906. - 2, 480 s., 8 l. ill., map.
• T. 2A (4): Prussia - Thomas. Russia. - 1907. - 2, 481-934, XCVIII, 4 p., 19 l. ill., map.

New encyclopedic dictionary

• T. 1: A - Alexander Mikhailovich. - . - 9 s, 984 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 2: Alexander Jagiellon - Antidor. - . - 9 p., 964 stb., 2 p., 27 ill., portrait, map.
• T. 3: Antidote - Ascanius. - . - 6 s, 964 stb., 16 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 4: Askania - Baluz. - . - 8 s, 952 stb., 2 s, 21 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 5: Balustrade - Beranger. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 11 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 6: Berar - Bobrovnikova. - . - 8 p., 960 stb., 2 p., 17 ill., portrait, map.
• T. 7: Bobrovnikov - Marriage law. - . - 8 s, 976 stb., 2 s, 9 l. ill., portrait
• T. 8: Marriage outfit - Belarusians. - . - 8 s, 964 stb., 2 s, 29 l. ill., portrait
• T. 9: Belorybitsa - Nobleman. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 16 l. ill.
• T. 10: Wöllner - Disciplinary power. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 26 l. ill., map.
• T. 11: Punitive power - Burning out of plant seedlings. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 30 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 12: Vygoretskaya Hermitage - Attorney General. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 23 l. ill., portrait
• T. 13: General Court - Golovnin. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 30 l. ill., map.
• T. 14: Golovnin - Grivitsa. - . - 8 p., 940, XXII, XVI stb., 2 p., 39 l. ill., map., table.
• T. 15: Hryvnia - Desmurgy. - . - 9 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 20 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 16: Desna - Mentally ill. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map.
• Vol. 17: Mental illness - Bugs. - . - 8 p., 964, XII stb., 2 p., 25 l. ill., map.
• T. 18: Zhukova - Ivnitsa. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 19: Willows - Italian art. - . - 8 s, 980 stb., VI, 2 s, 27 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 20: Itamarca - Karinsky. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 20 l. ill., portrait
• T. 21: Karintin - Knorring. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 18 l. ill., map.
• T. 22: Knorr - Kotorosl. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 24 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 23: Kotoshikhin - Lambert. - . - 9 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 24: Lambert - Peak beetles. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 26 l. ill., portrait
• T. 25: Lub - Max. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 15 l. ill., map.
• T. 26: Matseevsky - Lactic acid. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 14 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 27: Thrush - Bracers. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 18 l. ill., map.
• T. 28: Narushevich - Newton. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 20 l. ill., portrait, map.
• T. 29: Newfoundland - Otto. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 15 l. ill., map.

Since 1987, ESBE materials have been in the public domain.

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Subtitles

History of creation

In 1889, the owner of one of the St. Petersburg printing houses, Ilya Abramovich Efron, on the initiative of Professor Semyon Afanasyevich Vengerov, entered into an agreement with the German publishing house F. A. Brockhaus for the translation into Russian of a large encyclopedic dictionary “ Conversations-Lexikon", published by this publishing house. Initially, it was intended to limit ourselves to the translation of this publication, but only with a more detailed presentation of issues relating to Russia. It was planned to release only 16-18 volumes.

The first eight volumes (up to the letter “B”), published under the general editorship of Professor Ivan Efimovich Andreevsky, were an almost literal translation with a slight adaptation for the Russian reader. These volumes caused a lot of complaints about the quality of the translation; the general management of the publication also left much to be desired.

After the death of Professor Andreevsky, the editorial board was headed by academician Konstantin Konstantinovich Arsenyev and professor of St. Petersburg University Fyodor Fomich Petrushevsky, which marked a new period in the history of the encyclopedia. Starting from volume 9, the translated material fades into the background, and there is much more factual and statistical material. Particular attention is paid to geographical articles; the editorial states: “Russian cities are included absolutely, with the addition of more towns, villages and hamlets that have more than 3 thousand inhabitants or for some reason deserve attention.”

The Encyclopedic Dictionary began to be published in two versions. The first, more luxurious and expensive, consisted of 41 volumes, the second, with a more modest design - of 82 half-volumes. By dividing its expensive publication into half volumes, the company made it more accessible to a wide range of readers, thanks to which the circulation was increased to a record figure for that time - 130 thousand copies.

Many outstanding scientists and philosophers of that time were invited to the editorial staff: Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, Vladimir Sergeevich Solovyov, Semyon Afanasyevich Vengerov, Andrei Nikolaevich Beketov, Alexander Ivanovich Voeikov and many others. From this moment on, the encyclopedia begins to be replenished with original articles, and the main attention is paid to issues related to the history, culture and geography of Russia. The displacement of translated articles by original ones and the emergence of new authors affected the very nature of the publication: from a trivial encyclopedia it turned into a collection of the latest achievements and discoveries in all fields of science and technology.

The Encyclopedic Dictionary was published from 1890 to 1904. 4-5 volumes were published annually. The circulation fluctuated quite significantly: from 12 thousand copies in 1890 to 25 thousand in 1897. Semi-volumes 54 and 55, containing an extensive comprehensive description of Russia (1899), were published in a circulation of 35 thousand copies. The large circulation at that time determined the wide distribution of the dictionary on the market, despite the rather high price.

By 1907, an additional 4 half-volumes were published; this also included all the most significant things that, for various reasons, were missed in the previous volumes or appeared after the release of the encyclopedia. The 82nd semi-volume ends with a “Portrait Gallery” of the editors and employees of the “Encyclopedic Dictionary”, consisting of 300 phototype portraits: from the editor-in-chief to a simple typesetter.

At the same time, in 1899-1902, the “Small Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron” was published in three volumes; in 1907-1909 its second edition was published in four volumes.

In 1911, the “New Encyclopedic Dictionary” began to be published, edited by Konstantin Konstantinovich Arsenyev, which was supposed to cover the same range of knowledge as ESBE, but in a more compact and modern treatment. In 1916, due to wartime difficulties, the publication of the dictionary was stopped on the 29th volume of the originally planned 48 volumes of this publication. The RNL stores proof copies of the 30th (“Padalka” - “Perm diocese”; incomplete, without beginning) and 31st volumes (“Perm system” - “Poznan Grand Duchy”). .

Features of the encyclopedia

D.I. Mendeleev was not only the author of the articles, but also edited many of them, heading the chemical, technical and factory departments of the encyclopedia. Moreover, most of the articles written by him personally or co-authored were marked not with his name, but with the Greek letter delta (Δ). The article “Periodic legitimacy of chemical elements” concluded with the words:

In a word, the wide applicability of the P. law in the absence of an understanding of its cause is one of the indicators that it is very new and deeply penetrates into the nature of chemical phenomena, and I, as a Russian, am proud to have participated in its establishment.

- D. Mendeleev.

The periodic table continued to be built and expanded before the author’s eyes: this is illustrated by the article “”. In it, mentioning that Auer von Welsbach had already decomposed this imaginary element into praseodymium and neodymium (in 1882), Mendeleev cites even older layouts, completing them with the following conclusion:

Based on the totality of all the data presented, if we consider D. as an individual chemical element, then it should be placed in the fifth group of D. I. Mendeleev’s system.

Another feature of the encyclopedia is its free manner of presentation. Elements of fiction are found not only in biographical articles, many of which read like exciting stories, but also in scientific ones. In many ways, such looseness in the presentation of material is also a consequence of the involvement of the most prominent scientists of that time in writing articles, because, as you know, only someone who is fluent in this field can explain something most clearly. Moreover, at that time it was not customary to edit articles, “combing” them with one brush, and the author’s style remained untouched. It should be noted, however, that in articles on topics from history, art, literature, etc., this manner is sometimes combined with a violation of the principle of objectivity: so that the authors bring into the coverage of the issue common for that time or their own assessments.

When creating the ESBE there were some typos and repetitions (articles: “ Amsler Samuel" And " Amzler Samuel»; « Anidrosis" And " Anhidrosis or anidrosis»; « Antonsky-Prokopovich Anton Antonovich" And " Prokopovich-Antonsky, Anton Antonovich", etc.), as well as curiosities, the most famous of which is called "The Unmemorable Dog".

Authors and editors

See also .

ESBE in culture

It was easy and calm to think about all this, walking around the room in felt boots bought with Varvara’s money, and looking at his favorite closet, where the roots of the Brockhaus encyclopedic dictionary shimmered in church gold. Vasisuali stood for a long time in front of the closet, looking from spine to spine.

Editions

encyclopedic Dictionary

• T. 1 (1): A - Altai. - 1890. - 4, 480 s., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 1A (2): Altai - Aragway. - 1890. - 2, 481-954, II p., 19 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 2 (3): Arago - Outka. - 1890. - 2, 478, 2 s, 17 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 2A (4): Auto - Banks. - 1891. - 4, 479-946, 2 p., 19 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 3 (5): Banks - Berger. - 1891. - 2, 480 s., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 3A (6): Berger - Encores. - 1891. - 2, 481-956 p., 3 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 4 (7): Bitburg - Bosch. - 1891. - 4, VIII, 472 pp., 6 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 4A (8): Bos - Bunchuk. - 1891. - 6, VI, 473-940 p., 7 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 5 (9): Buny - Walter. - 1891. - 4, IV, 468, XII p., 5 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 5A (10): Walter - Venuti. - 1892. - 4, 469-938, 2 p., 8 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 6 (11): Venzano - Vinona. - 1892. - 4, II, 488, 2 p., 7 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 6A (12): Wine literature - Volan. - 1892. - 6, 489-944, 2 p., 15 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 7 (13): Volapyuk - Vygovsky. - 1892. - 4, 480 s., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 7A (14): Vygovsky - Galban. - 1892. - 8, 481-952, 4, 4 p., 4 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 8 (15): Galberg - Germanium. - 1892. - 6, 478, 2 s, 10 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 8A (16): Germany - Go. - 1893. - 8, 479-958, II, 2 p. 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 9 (17): Goa - Engraver. - 1893. - 6, 474 p., 13 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 9A (18): Gravilat - Davenant. - 1893. - 8, 475-974, II, 2 p., 17 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 10 (19): Davenport - Desmin. - 1893. - 4, 480 s., 2 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 10A (20): Desmurgy - Domitian. - 1893. - 481-960, II p., 8 p. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 11 (21): Domitii - Evreinova. - 1893. - 6, 466 p., 9 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 11A (22): Evreinovs - Zhilon. - 1894. - 4, 467-958, II, 2 p., 11 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 12 (23): Veins - Sempach. - 1894. - 6, 480 s., 11 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 12A (24): Semper - Imidoacids. - 1894. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 6 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 13 (25): Imidoesters - Historical school. - 1894. - 8, 480 p., 7 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 13A (26): Historical magazines - Kalaidovich. - 1894. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 7 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 14 (27): Kalaka - Kardam. - 1895. - 4, 480 s., 8 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 14A (28): Kardanakhi - Kero. - 1895. - 6, 481-960, II, II p., 5 p. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 15 (29): Kerosene - Koaye. - 1895. - 6, 478 p., 8 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 15A (30): Koala - Concordia. - 1895. - 2, II, 2, 479-960, II p., 9 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 16 (31): Concord - Koyalovich. - 1895. - 6, 480 s., 11 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 16A (32): Koyalovich - Coulomb. - 1895. - 6, 481-960, II, 2 p., 16 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 17 (33): Kultagoy - Ice. - 1896. - 4, 482 pp., 16 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 17A (34): Ledier - Loparev. - 1896. - 6, 483-960, II, 2 p., 15 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 18 (35): Lapps - Juvenile criminals. - 1896. - 4, 480 s., 16 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 18A (36): Early childhood - Meishagola. - 1896. - 6, 481-958, II, 2 p., 7 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 19 (37): Mekenen - Mifu-Banya. - 1896. - 4, 476 p., 12 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 19A (38): Michael's Order - Moscow Telegraph. - 1896. - 6, 477-960, II, 2 p., 21 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 20 (39): Moscow University - Corrective punishments. - 1897. - 6, 480 s., 20 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 20A (40): Punishment chieftain - Owl. - 1897. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 14 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 21 (41): Nibelungs - Näffzer. - 1897. - 4, 480 s., 17 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 21A (42): Nashville - Opatsky. - 1897. - 8, 481-960, II, 2 p., 30 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 22 (43): Guardianship - Outsider. - 1897. - 4, 480 s., 18 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 22A (44): Owen - Patent on fights. - 1897. - 6, 481-960, II p., 27 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 23 (45): Patents for inventions - Petropavlovsky. -1898. - 4, 474 s, 15 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 23A (46): Petropavlovsky - Povatazhnoe. - 1898. - 4, II, 475-958, II, 2 p., 20 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 24 (47): Imperative mood - Polar coordinates. - 1898. - 4, 474 pp., 18 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 24A (48): Polar lights - Praia. - 1898. - 4, II, 475-958, II, 2 p., 11 l. ill., map., table. (on the RSL website)
• T. 25 (49): Prayaga - Delay in vacation. - 1898. - 4, 478 pp., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 25A (50): Prostatitis - Workhouse. - 1898. - 4, II, 2, 479-958, II, 2 p. (on the RSL website)
• T. 26 (51): Workbook - Resolution. - 1899. - 6, 480 s., 10 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 26A (52): Resonance and resonators - Rosa di Tivoli. - 1899. - 4, II, 481-960, II, 2 p., 13 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 27 (53): Rosaven - Turnip. - 1899. - 6, 480 s., 22 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 27A (54): Repina - Ryasskoe and Russia. - 1899. - 4, II, 481-532, 1-420, IV p. 51 l. ill., map., table. (on the RSL website)
• T. 28 (55): Russia and S - Savarna. - 1899. - 6, 421-874, IV, 2, 1-24 p., 16 l. ill., map., table. (on the RSL website)
• T. 28A (56): Savarni - Saharon. - 1900. - 4, II, 25-496, II pp., 15 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 29 (57): Sugar - Seven Wise Men. - 1900. - 8, 468 s, 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 29A (58): Seven lakes - Symphony. - 1900. - 4, II, 469-954, II, 2 pp., 16 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 30 (59): Sim - Slyuzka. - 1900. - 4, 2, 480 s., 9 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 30A (60): Slyuz - Sofia Paleolog. - 1900. - 4, II, 481-960, II, 2 p., 22 p. ill., map., table. (on the RSL website)
• T. 31 (61): Sofia - Statics. - 1900. - 6, 472 s., 11 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 31A (62): Statics - Judicial system. - 1901. - 4, II, 473-954, II, 2 p., 10 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 32 (63): Shipping fees - Taitsy. - 1901. - 4, 480 s., 14 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 32A (64): Tai - Termites. - 1901. - 4, II, 481-960, II, 2 p., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 33 (65): Thermal sensations - Tombasi. - 1901. - 4, 478 s., 25 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 33A (66): Tombigbee - Trula Cathedral. - 1901. - 4, II, 479-960, II, 2 p., 5 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 34 (67): Trump - Calcium carbon. - 1901. - 4, 482 s., 5 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 34A (68): Carbon - Effort. - 1902. - 6, II, IV, 483-960, II, 2 p., 16 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 35 (69): Usinsk border district - Phenol. - 1902. - 4, 476 s., 7 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 35A (70): Phenols - Finland. - 1902. - 4, II, 477-960, II p., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 36 (71): Finland - Franconia. - 1902. - 4, 478 p., 15 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 36A (72): Franconian dynasty - Khaki. - 1902. - 4, II, 479-956, II, 2 p., 12 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 37 (73): Hakim - Khodorov. - 1903. - 6, 478 p., 18 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 37A (74): Chodsky - Censorship. - 1903. - 2, II, 479-962, II, 2 p., 11 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 38 (75): Censorship Committee - Man. - 1903. - 4, 482 p., 9 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 38A (76): Man - Chuguevsky Regiment. - 1903. - 6, II, 483-958, 2, 2 p., 10 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 39 (77): Chuguev - Shen. - 1903. - 6, 480 s., 7 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 39A (78): Chenier - Shuisky Monastery. - 1903. - 4, II, 481-960, II p., 6 p. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 40 (79): Shuiskoe - Electrical excitability. - 1904. - 4, 4, 468 pp., 9 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 40A (80): Electrical excitatory force - Ergotin. - 1904. - 4, II, 469-954, 2 p., 13 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 41 (81): Erdan - Egg production. - 1904. - 4, 576 p., 7 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 41A (82): Oviduct - V. - 1904. - 6, IV, 577-956, 4 p., 6 l. ill., cart., 28 l. portrait (on the RSL website)

Additional volumes:

• T. 1 (1): Aa - Wood Pigeon. - 1905. - 4, 478 p., 6 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 1A (2): The Hague Conference - Kochubey. - 1905. - 4, 481-956, II, 2 pp. 3 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 2 (3): Koshbukh - Prusik. - 1906. - 2, 480 s., 8 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 2A (4): Prussia - Thomas. Russia. - 1907. - 2, 481-934, XCVIII, 4 p., 19 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)

New encyclopedic dictionary

• T. 1: A - Alexander Mikhailovich. - . - 9 s, 984 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 2: Alexander Jagiellon - Antidor. - . - 9 p., 964 stb., 2 p., 27 ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 3: Antidote - Ascanius. - . - 6 s, 964 stb., 16 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 4: Askania - Baluz. - . - 8 s, 952 stb., 2 s, 21 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 5: Balustrade - Beranger. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 11 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 6: Berar - Bobrovnikova. - . - 8 p., 960 stb., 2 p., 17 ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 7: Bobrovnikov - Marriage law. - . - 8 s, 976 stb., 2 s, 9 l. ill., portrait (on the RSL website)
• T. 8: Marriage outfit - Belarusians. - . - 8 s, 964 stb., 2 s, 29 l. ill., portrait (on the RSL website)
• T. 9: Belorybitsa - Nobleman. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 16 l. ill. (on the RSL website)
• T. 10: Wöllner - Disciplinary power. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 26 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 11: Punitive power - Burning out of plant seedlings. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 30 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 12: Vygoretskaya Hermitage - Attorney General. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 23 l. ill., portrait (on the RSL website)
• T. 13: General Court - Golovnin. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 30 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 14: Golovnin - Grivitsa. - . - 8 p., 940, XXII, XVI stb., 2 p., 39 l. ill., map., table. (on the RSL website)
• T. 15: Hryvnia - Desmurgy. - . - 9 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 20 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 16: Desna - Mentally ill. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map. (on the RSL website)
• Vol. 17: Mental illness - Bugs. - . - 8 p., 964, XII stb., 2 p., 25 l. ill., map. (on the RSL website)
• T. 18: Zhukova - Ivnitsa. - . - 8 s, 960 stb., 2 s, 28 l. ill., portrait, map. (