The Precursors of Art and Industry : Revelations of Nature

# BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 2007
1. Bibliographic Data
Author
Wood, John George (1827–1889)
Title
The Precursors of Art and Industry : Revelations of Nature
Statement of responsibility
By J. G. Wood ; translated into Spanish by Enrique Leopoldo de Verneuil
Place of publication
Barcelona
Publisher
Montaner y Simón, Publishers
Series
Not identified
Printer
Montaner y Simón, Typographical and Publishing Establishment
Date
1886
Imprint (isbd)
Barcelona : Montaner y Simón, Publishers, 1886
Language
Spanish
Edition
Illustrated edition
Alternative title
Revelations of Nature
Short title
The Precursors of Art and Industry
Original work
Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by Nature
Original language
English
Translator
Enrique Leopoldo de Verneuil
Print run
Not identified
2. Physical Description
Collation
538 pages
Illustrations
Numerous wood-engraved illustrations integrated throughout the text
Maps
None identified
Format
Large quarto
Dimensions
32 × 24 cm
Typographical signatures
Not identified
Paper type
High-quality machine-made glazed paper
Watermarks
Not identified
Printing condition
Good
3. Binding
Binding type
Original publisher’s binding
Materials
Full red cloth binding
Decoration
Rich polychrome decoration in black and gilt, featuring a large central spider-web design and ornamental motifs
Spine
Decorated with black and gilt tooling
Boards
Original publisher’s decorative stamping with geometric and ornamental motifs
Endpapers
Original publisher’s endpapers
Binding condition
Very good, with minor wear consistent with age and use
4. Contents
Popular scientific work intended to demonstrate the relationship between human inventions and the examples provided by nature.
The author examines numerous burrowing, nesting and building animals, describing their habits, shelters, dwellings and natural constructions. The second part of the work explores how many technological achievements and scientific discoveries have precedents in natural phenomena and biological structures.
The volume is richly illustrated with numerous wood engravings accompanying the text.
5. General Notes
Originally written in English.
Spanish translation by Enrique Leopoldo de Verneuil.
Printed in the workshops of the Montaner y Simón Typographical and Publishing Establishment in Barcelona.
Preserves its original deluxe publisher’s binding.
Illustrated with numerous engraved plates and text figures.
Displays minor scattered foxing without affecting readability or structural stability.
Representative example of the richly illustrated scientific publications produced in Barcelona during the late nineteenth century.
6. Subjects
Natural History
Zoology
Animal Behaviour
Popular Science
Nature-Inspired Technology
Natural Sciences
Biology
7. Copy Record
Shelfmark
2007
Condition
Good
Provenance
Biblioteca de Alfred Gallart i Genis
Copy notes
Preserves the original Montaner y Simón publisher’s binding in red cloth stamped in black and gilt. Complete copy with 538 pages and abundant wood-engraved illustrations. Dimensions 32 × 24 cm. A representative example of the great illustrated publishing productions of nineteenth-century Barcelona.