The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Ersch, Johann Samuel
(y´hän zä´ml rsh) (KEY) , 17661828, German encyclopedist, first editor of the great encyclopedia known as Ersch and Grubers. At his death, 17 volumes had been completed and he was succeeded by Johann Gottfried Gruber. Ersch is considered the father of German bibliography.