History and Description of the Crystal Palace
and the Exhibition of the World’s Industry in 1851

Tallis' book, published in 1852, gives a vibrant account of the Great Exhibition, a key event of the Victorian period.

John Tallis (Author), J. G. Strutt (Edited by)

9781108026703, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

382 pages, 61 b/w illus.
29.7 x 21 x 2 cm, 0.91 kg

In May 1851, the doors opened on the Great Exhibition, a celebration of British industry and international trade that spawned numerous imitations across the globe. The scale of the exhibition was immense and publishers responded quickly to the demand for catalogues, guidebooks and souvenir volumes. In a marketplace swamped with exhibition literature, Tallis' three-volume History and Description of the Crystal Palace, originally published in 1852 and reproduced here in the 1854 edition, quickly established itself as the definitive history for middle-class readers. Illustrated with high-quality steel-engraved plates of the most popular and eye-catching exhibits, Tallis' book provides a fascinating contemporary account of this cultural and commercial highlight of the Victorian age, and reveals the mind-set of a society at the peak of its imperial power. Volume 1 describes the preparations for the exhibition and focuses particularly on the 'foreign and colonial' departments and the decorative arts.

Introduction
1. Origin of the Exhibition
2. The Paxton plan
3. Approach of the time fixed for opening the Exhibition
4. The opening of the Exhibition
5. Preparatory arrangement
6. Colonial departments – India
7. Sculpture
8. Chaucer's dream
9. Foreign and colonial departments continued
10. Number of visitors
11. Foreign and colonial departments continued
12. Foreign and colonial departments continued – The United States
13. Wood carving
14. Discovery of glass
15. Precious stones
16. Mosaic work
17. An early morning visit
18. Foreign and colonial departments continued
19. Laborious trifles
20. Sculpture continued
21. Foreign and colonial departments continued
22. Industry aided by science
23. Ornamental silver
24. Letters of M. John Lemoinne
25. The potter's art
26. Second letter of M. J. Lemoinne
27. The application of science to the purposes of humanity
28. Sculpture continued – Florence
29. Contributions from the Highlands
30. Foreign and colonial departments continued
31. Stained and painted glass continued
32. Edinburgh Review
33. The Fine Arts court
34. Comprehensive nature of the Great Exhibition
35. The fan
36. Bookbinding
37. The mediaeval court
38. Letters from M. Blanqui continued
39. Council medals
40. Description of technical terms
41. Varieties
42. Perfumery.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ]