Official Catalogue of the Industrial Department (Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19th Century)

This official catalogue, reissued here in its updated third edition, appeared in 1862 to accompany London's International Exhibition of that year. Held from May to November in South Kensington, on a site now occupied by the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, the exhibition served to showcase the progress that had been made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. The catalogue contains brief entries for participants, giving details of their name, location and products. The coverage includes mining, engineering, textiles, ceramics, metals, printing, photography, musical instruments, and pharmaceuticals. Containing a ground plan of the exhibition space as well as many contemporary advertisements, this publication remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians.