Andrew Bell (1726–1809) engraver and William Smellie (1740–1795) Printer

Description

William Smellie, on the right, and Andrew Bell were two of the founders of the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, published in three volumes in Edinburgh (1768-1761). Most of the articles were written by William Smellie and all the copper engravings were done by Bell. Some prints by Bell, engraved for ‘Buffon’s Natural History’ 1780, are available in our Natural History category.

Drawn and etched by John Kay (1742-1826), artist and barber of Edinburgh. Published in ‘A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings’, 1877. Biographies and anecdotes by James Paterson and James Maidment.

Etching
1787
Image size 65 x 84 mm