John Weale (publisher)
John Weale (1791 – December 18, 1862 in Maida Vale) was an English publisher of popular scientific, architectural, engineering and educational works. Life. He went into the trade first with George Priestley in St Giles, London who died around 1812, and worked then with Priestley's widow. He took a particular interest in the study of architecture. In 1823 he issued a bibliographical "Catalogue of Works on Architecture and the Fine Arts", of which a new edition appeared in 1854. He bought the architectural publishing business at 59 High Holborn built up by Isaac Taylor and his son  Josiah Taylor as The Architectural Library, after Josiah's death in 1834. He followed the "Catalogue" in 1849–50 with a "Rudimentary Dictionary of Terms used in Architecture, Building, and Engineering", a work which reached a fifth edition in 1876. Weale died in London on 18 December 1862. Works. Weale published also: He edited "Weale's Quarterly Papers on Engineering", London, 1843–6, 6 vols., and "Weale's Quarterly Papers on Architecture", London, 1843–5, 4 vols. Weale's "Rudimentary Series". Weale was on good terms with many men of science, and published cheap literature for technical education. His "Rudimentary Series" (over 130  works, usually selling at one shilling) and other educational series comprised standard works, both in classics and science. They were suggested initially by William Reid, and were continued after his death, first by James Sprent Virtue. The "Rudimentary Series" was later followed by the "Weale's Scientific & Technical Series" (1881-1923), published first by John Weale and then by Crosby, Lockwood and Son. Source: Lists at end of the publications. The series was later taken on by the publisher Crosby Lockwood, who added volumes while retaining the system of reference numbers (across editions). One of John Weale's earliest books  published was "Steam Navigation, Tredgold on the Steam Engine Appendix A" which was edited and published under direction from Thomas Tredgold himself. "Steam Navigation, Tredgold on the Steam Engine, Appendix A" was printed by W. Hughes, King’s Head Court, Gough Square. Its value in August 1839 was twelve shillings.