Brockhaus is a German encyclopedia. The first edition originated in the Conversations-Lexikon mit vorzüglicher Rücksicht auf die gegenwärtigen Zeiten by Renatus Gotthelf Löbel and Christian Wilhelm Franke, published in Leipzig 1796-1808, which was bought by Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus in the latter year. He paid 1,800 thalers.

At first the name of the encyclopedia remained Konversationslexikon or Allgemeine deutsche Real-Encyklopädie für die gebildeten Stände; only with the 15th edition did the name Brockhaus appear in the title as Der grosse Brockhaus, and the present edition is titled Brockhaus Enzyklopädie.

Few works of reference have been more useful and successful, or more frequently copied, imitated and translated, than the Konversationslexikon of Brockhaus. The work was intended, not for scientific use, but to promote general mental improvement by giving the results of research and discovery in a simple and popular form without extended details. The articles, often very brief, are excellent and trustworthy, especially on German subjects, give references to the best books, and include biographies of living men.

The current 20th edition contains about 260,000 entries on 17,000 pages. In addition to that, there are about 35,000 maps, graphics and tables.

Early editors

Christian Wilhelm Franke was to finish vol. vi of the Leipzig publication by December 1808, and the already projected supplement, in 2 volumes, by 1811. Brockhaus himself edited the 2nd edition (1812-1819, 10 vols.), and, when vol. iv was published, the 3rd (1814-1819). Dr. Ludwig Ham assisted in editing the 4th and 5th editions until he left Leipzig in April 1820, when Professor F.C. Hasse took his place. Brockhaus died in 1823, and his two eldest sons, Friedrich and Heinrich, edited the 6th edition with Hasse's assistance in September 1823. Hasse edited the 7th edition. Dr. Karl August Espe edited the 8th and 9th editions.

Dr. August Kurtzel, aided by Oskar Pilz, edited the 10th edition, assisted by Heinrich Edward Brockhaus, and Heinrich Rudolf Brockhaus, the younger son, assisted in the 11th edition. Kurtzel died on April 24, 1871, and Pilz was sole editor until March 1872, when Dr. Gustav Stockmann joined, joined by Dr. Karl Wippermann in October.

Editions

• 1st (1809)
• 2nd (1812-1819)
• 3rd (1814-1819)
• 4th (1817-1819)
• 5th (1820)
• 6th (1824)
• 7th (1830)
• 8th (1833-1837)
• 9th (1843-1848)
• 10th (1851-1855)
• 11th (1864-1868, supplement 1872-1873)
• 12th (1875-1879)
• 13th (1882-1887, supplement 1887)
• 14th (1892-1895, supplement 1897, revised edition 1898)
• 15th (1928-1935) (Der Grosse Brockhaus)
• 16th (1952-1957) (Der Grosse Brockhaus)
• 17th (1966-1974) (Brockhaus Enzyklopädie)
• 18th (1977-1981) (Der Grosse Brockhaus)
• 19th (1986-1994) (Brockhaus Enzyklopädie)
• 20th (1996-1999) (Brockhaus Enzyklopädie)

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.