Publication history of the Encyclopédie (1751–1772)

1. Paris publishers launch an Encyclopédie project

   Jan 1, 1745Labels: Paris publishers, Jean d'Alembert, Denis Diderot

   • Britannica

2. Diderot issues the Prospectus to attract subscribers

   Oct 1, 1750Labels: Denis Diderot, Prospectus

   • BnF Gallica
   • Lehigh Exhibit

3. Volume 1 appears with the Discours préliminaire

   Jul 1, 1751Labels: Volume 1, Discours pr, Jean d'Alembert

   • PubMed
   • ARTFL
   • Britannica

4. Volume 2 triggers a royal suppression order

   Feb 9, 1752Labels: Volume 2, Royal suppression, French authorities

   • 1902 Encyclopedia
   • Britannica
   • Joly de Fleury

5. Text volumes continue under heightened censorship

   Jan 1, 1753Labels: Text volumes, Censors

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

6. d’Alembert resigns from the editorship

   Jan 1, 1758Labels: Jean d'Alembert, Editorship

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

7. Government revokes the publishing privilege

   Jan 1, 1759Labels: Publishing privilege, French government

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

8. Plates volumes begin appearing alongside the text

   Jan 1, 1762Labels: Plates volumes, Engraved plates

   • Britannica
   • V A

9. Publisher edits proofs without Diderot’s consent

   Jan 1, 1764Labels: Andr Le, Proof edits

   • ARTFL
   • Britannica

10. Seventeen text volumes completed (dated 1765)

    Jan 1, 1765Labels: Seventeen volumes, Text completion

    • Britannica
    • Wikipedia

11. Final volumes of plates complete the first run

    Jan 1, 1772Labels: Plate completion, First edition

    • V A
    • Britannica

12. Project’s legacy extends through later supplements and index

    Jan 1, 1780Labels: Supplements, Index 1780

    • Britannica
    • PubMed