Nature, 1869-1879 - v. 1-21

"Nature" began in November 1869 as a weekly magazine of general scientific enquiry.

It attracted correspondents from around the globe and from all areas of the scientific community who would report their first hand observations of phenomena, or put forward a theory to explain puzzles of the day.

Covering an enormous range of fields from the pure sciences, such as physics, astronomy and chemistry, to areas such as the technology of manufacturing, public health, anthropology and archaeology, "Nature" gradually developed into the forum of choice for announcing important scientific discoveries.

This has continued to the 20th century with recent breakthroughs such as the Human Genome project covered exclusively by "Nature".This facsimile edition of the early years of "Nature" covers all the weekly issues from 1869 to 1879, illustrated throughout with fine line drawings.

A glance through the pages of these volumes brings insights into the development of objects and systems that we now take for granted.This is the first part of a 60 volume collection, in which it is possible to find the precursor of the fax machine, to trace the discovery of X rays and to see the first thinking on germ warfare.The original indexes to the half yearly volumes are left in situ but this collection also includes a specially commissioned Index volume, constructed for the first time on modern indexing principles.Whether interested in Victorian science, the history of one of the world's most prestigious publications or the more general history of science and scientists, researchers and librarians should find this collection valuable.