California is "a large country of the West Indies. It is uncertain whether it be a peninsula or an island."

Nearly a quarter millennium after the "Society of Gentlemen in Scotland" captured the sum total of extant human knowledge in the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, what was known then, and what was not, will fascinate, intrigue, surprise, and entertain family and friends for hours on end. The handsome three-volume reproduction is so beautifully executed that it's almost indistinguishable from the 1768 original, right down to the natural age spots and watermarks on the pages. A must-have for collectors of history or vintage books, the set lends an unmistakable air of prestige to any home or office. See for yourself one of the world's most influential publications - the books that established Britannica's tradition of comprehensiveness and authority in general knowledge that has remained unsurpassed ever since.