Encyclopaedia londinensis, or,

Universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature

1810-29

Originally from Winchester, John Wilkes was an established London printer, bookseller and publisher, and the proprietor of the Hampshire Chronicle, one of England’s oldest continuing publications. In 1810 Wilkes published the first eight volumes of his Encyclopaedia londinensis with a volume published almost every year thereafter until the twenty fourth and last in 1829. Compiled and arranged by Wilkes much of the information came from other small works not always his own as was often the case with such compendiums, and indeed he was successfully sued for piracy for the not unsubstantial sum of £100 by Charles Roworth author of Art of Defence with the Broad Sword.

Many of the engravings for the Encyclopaedia londinensis were executed by the extremely gifted John Pass, also originally from Winchester. Pass used his own work as well as existing images by some of the most accomplished artists of his time, making amendments where necessary to correlate to the Encyclopaedia. Sadly Pass’s lasting fame came not from his life but rather his brutal death in 1832 at the hands of the young printer James Cook, the last man in England to be exhibited in a gibbet.

The Encyclopaedia londinensisis provides an eloquent visual presentation of the history and most recent developments in the Arts and Sciences, and serves as an extraordinary record of the talents of Pass and his contemporaries. These particular examples of the Encyclopaedia londinensisis are in fine original hand colour, expertly and lavishly applied with no expense spared.

Below are a few examples from this collection. Please click on an image to see it in high-resolution with details of the work itself. For the full list of original antique Wilkes engravings available,  please do contact us.

Chaetodon: Butterflyfish. The sickle banded and the Bristled Chaetodon. Engraved by John Pass.

Cuttlefish: With eight specimens of Jelly fish. Crustaceans: Cristatus Crab, Paurus Crab and Common Lobster. Engraved by John Pass.

Hares and Rabbits: Common, Calling and Alpine Hares with Common and Hooded Rabbits.

Ampelis: The Crested Chatter of America. After George Edwards

Penguin (Aptenodytes): Patagonian Penguin and Magellanic Penguin. After George Edwards. Engraved by John Pass.

Diodon: Porcupine Fish. The Oblong and the Orbicular Porcupine Fish.

Locusts (Gryllus): G.bisasciatus, G bimaculatus, G granulatus, G leucostictos, G. griseus, G binotatus and Acheta. Engraved by John Pass.

Warbler (Motacilla): African Warbler with nest.

Murices: Cones. A Rock Shell with Aporrhais and Rhombus. After Albertus Seba, engraved by John Pass.

Helminthology: Testaceous. Cardium echinata (1-3) and Buccium udatum (11) with other univalves and bivalves.

Common stag and German stag.

Sheep: South Devon, Norfolk, Merino, Iceland, Four-horn and Cretan.

Camel: Dromedary or Arabian Camel. Engraved by John Chapman.

Exocoetus: Flying fish, Sea Swallow and Middle-pinned flying fish (Mesogaster).

Bullae (Pewit’s Egg or Dipper). 12 Dippers, Argus Cowry with 9 Cowries and a Weaver Shuttle. After Albertus Seba, engraved by John Pass.

Egyptian Jerboa: With a Spectacle (stalked eye) Fly and Pyramids in the background.

Buccina: Triton, Wry mouthed, Umbilicated, Plicated, Gullered, Whelks, Thorny Woodcock, Strombus and Pupura.

Ray: Devil Ray, Guitarfish, Thornback and Electric Ray. Engraved by John Pass.

Aecidium and Agaricus: Aecidium abietinum, elatinum, columnare, viola, and Agaricus scabellus, vitellum, tricolour, porphyria and lepidomyces. Engraved by John Pass.

Lizards (Lacerta): Monitor Lizard (Goanna) Broad tailed Lizard, Great and Common Water Newts with details of larvae. Engraved by John Pass.

Helminthology: Zoophytes. Spongia ossiformis (7) and Tubularia magnifica (8) with other corals.

Carissa Carandas (Christ’s Thorn): With 10 Species of Cantharis (Soldier Beetle).

Warbler (Motacilla): Pinc Pinc grass warbler with nest.

Volutes: Cones. The Cedo Null with Imperial Crowns with Admiral shells. After Albertus Seba, engraved by John Pass.

Secretary bird (Falco serpentarius): The Serpent Eater native to central, eastern and southern Africa.

Pangolin (Manis): Short tailed and longtailed Pangolin (scaly anteater) with skeleton of a mammoth Pangolin. Engraved by John Pass.

Chaetodon: Butterfly fish.Teira, Araunus and Vespertilio butterfly fish.

Watermelon: With Acharia Moth (Acharia ophelians, caterpillar, chrysalis and pupa. After Maria Sybilla Merian. Engraved by John Pass.

Boletus igniarius and Frondosius, Blasia pusilla, Buxbaumia aphylla and Byssus fulva.

Sea Turtles: Hawksbill 5 and Green Sea Turtle 6. with Yellow footed Tortoise 1, European Tortoise 2, Spotted Turtle 3, Painted Turtle 4. Engraved by John Pass.

Chaetodon: Butterfly fish. The Chaetodon of Surat. After Marcus Bloch. Engraved by James Pass.

Locusts (Gryllus): G. foliaceus, Acrydium, G bipunctatus, G fabulatus, G. opacus. Engraved by John Pass.

Nectarine and Almond: Orange Nectarine, Sweet Almond and Creeping Almond.

Warbler (Motacilla): Pinc Pinc grass warbler with nest.

Scorpion (Scorpio): European, Black and Linear Scorpions. Engraved by John Pass.

Globusae: Persian Crown, Harp, Helmut, Partridge, Butterfly, Fig, Tun, Melon and Prepuce mollusc shells. After Albertus Seba, engraved by John Pass.

Coluber (Viper): Summer loving, Pethola and Painted vipers. After Albertus Seba, engraved by John Pass.

Crocodile (Lacerta): Nile Crocodile with detail of head and jaw of a young crocodile. Engraved by John Pass.

Coral: Gorgonia Antipathes (Black Coral) and Gorgonia Muricata (Staghorn Coral).

Morels: Esculent Morel, Stinking Morel with Sea Canary Grass.

Crab: Soldier Crab, Hermit Crab and Land Crab.

Pineapple: Sugarloaf pineapple with Brentus and bruchus insects. Engraved by John Pass.

Coral: Gorgonia Ceratophyta (Sea Wip Coral) and Gorgonia Nobilis (Precious Coral): With magnified parts of branches.