1840-1845]. Three volumes, large 4to; I. pp. 648, with 39 engraved plates, several folding; II. pp. viii, 672, with 55 engraved plates, several folding; III. pp. viii, 672, with 66 engraved plates, several folding; in all 160 plates; according to the three plates lists all present, though not all bound in the correct volume, and with a number of additional plates not called for; many of the plates somewhat foxed and browned, with some irregular creasing due to folding errors, one or two of the larger folding plates with tears at the gutter, the majority not impacting the image, though more prominent to plates at Vol I. p. 252, p. 278, p. 626 (with old repair), Vol II. p. 200 (marginal tear touching image); small ‘burn holes’ affecting upper margin Vol I. pp. 621-626, small paper flaw in Vol. II p. 641; overall very good; in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, spines and joints neatly repaired retaining the original spine, lettered and tooled in gilt, some light wear to extremities; a good copy. First edition, all published, of this extensively illustrated and comprehensive scientific periodical, the brain-child of James Ainsworth in Manchester, born out of the burgeoning mechanics institute movement. This encyclopaedic periodical seems to have been first published by Ainsworth, and printed by Mackenzie in Glasgow, in around 1840-1841, although the exact date of issue appears uncertain.
According to the preface of Volume I, the journal was a subscription publication, though we have been unable to establish how frequently the parts were issued. It was published in response to what they believed to be ‘a want of some useful work, affording - at a cheap rate, and in such portions as may be easily perused by those whose time is chiefly occupied in providing for the wants of the day - the means of acquiring all that knowledge which will assist them to perform well the various duties of life’. A further paragraph in the main text preface shines light upon their intentions: ‘The general way in which the working classes attain scientific knowledge is, by attending Mechanics’ Institutions. The benefits of such institutions cannot be too highly extolled; but the experience of every student must teach him, that something more than the fleeting words of the lecturer is necessary to make his studies satisfactory. Reading and investigation are necessary; and although our libraries afford an easy access to books, those books cannot be retained long enough to afford time to digest their contents. The next resource is to purchase books; but the high price of scientific works places them beyond the reach of working men. There is, therefore, a great desideratum, which it is the purpose of the Imperial Journal to supply. Each illustrated essay on Science will be a lecture - the whole work a Mechanics’ Institute’ (Vol I. p. iii).
We have previously handled copies of the particularly striking phrenological chart which is found in Vol. II. Bearing in mind that the work was published in parts, and may well have been used lecturers for the Mechanical Institute, this does perhaps, go some way to explaining why some of the more popular plates are therefore found separately, sometimes laid down onto linen to allow for wall-hanging. As interesting example of readership and the adaptation of such works.