Official descriptive and illustrated catalogue
By: by authority of the Royal Commission, in three volumes.
Contributors: Ellis, Robert, F.L.S.; Cole, Henry, Sir, 1808-1882.; Wyatt, M. Digby Sir, 1820-1877.; Playfair, Lyon Playfair, Baron, 1818-1898; Barry, Charles, Sir, 1795-1860 (association); Day & Son; Standidge & Co.; Remnant & Edmonds; Westleys & Co.; Great Britain. Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851.
Publisher: Spicer Brothers, Wholesale Stationers; W. Clowes and Sons, Printers; Contractors to the Royal Commission
Published: 1851
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Subjects: Exhibitions -- Catalogs; Decorative arts -- Catalogs
Notes: At head of title: Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, 1851.

Added lithographed t.p. in v. 1 only: Official descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the Great Exhibition 1851.

Paged continuously (1469 p.); includes advertising matter.

Chromolithographs with imprint of Day & Son or Standidge & Co.

Signed in octavo; published also in 5 parts; the 3 volume ed. first published Oct. 8, 1851.  Introductory and explanatory matter by Henry Cole, M. Digby Wyatt and Robert Ellis; classification scheme by Lyon Playfair.

MASS copy 1: With publisher's notice tipped in on first page; vol. 1 and 2 with advertisements following text.

MASS copy 2: With some alterations and additions to the text as found in copy 1; lacking publisher's notice, first leaf (Latin motto and printer's imprint), and advertisements in vol. 2; with an additional col. plate in vol. 2 following p. 820.

MASS copy 1: Bound in light blue morocco-grain cloth, blocked in gold and blind; binder's ticket: Bound by Remnant & Edmonds.

MASS copy 2: With the bookplate of the Surveyor's Institution; vol. 2 and 3 with additional lithographed presentation leaf  preceding t.p.: Presentation copy to Charles Barry from Spicer Bros and William Clowes & Sons; bound in dark blue morocco-grain cloth, decorated as for copy 1; binder's ticket: Bound by Westleys & Co.
Table of contents: title: Vol. 1.  Index and introductory. Section I Raw materials, classes 1 to 4. Section II Machinery, classes 5 to 10.; title: Vol. 2.  Section III Manufactures, classes 11 to 29.  Section IV Fine Arts, Class 30. Colonies.; title: Vol. 3.  Foreign States.