Great exhibition of the works of industry of all nations 1851: official descriptive and illustrated catalogue - vol. III 1851

This is Volume Three of the official catalogue for the Great Exhibition, printed in London in 1851 by William Clowes and Sons. The Great Exhibition was a turning point in the history of design and the culture of display, intended to showcase the achievements of industrial nations. This catalogue, "by Authority of the Royal Commission," provides a fascinating insight into the power dynamics of the era. The volume is focused on foreign states and offers a glimpse of Britain's relationship to the rest of the world. The choice of items included and excluded, the descriptions, and the illustrations themselves, reveal the social and political values of Victorian society. By examining sources like this catalogue, alongside newspapers, personal letters, and government records, historians can better understand the motivations and impact of events such as the Great Exhibition on its contemporary social and institutional context.