The Circle of Mechanical Arts

Date1818

Maker Thomas Martin

MediumPrinters ink on wove paper in modern binding

DimensionsOH OH: 10 7/8" x OW: 8 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2011-97

DescriptionThe title page reads: "THE/ CIRCLE/ OF/ THE MECHANICAL ARTS;/ CONTAINING/ PRACTICAL TREATISES/ ON THE VARIOUS/ MANUAL ARTS, TRADES, & MANUFACTURES./ BY THOMAS MARTIN,/ CIVIL ENGINEER,/ ASSISTED BY EMINENT PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS AND MANUFACTURERS./ ILLUSTRATED BY NUMBEROUS ENGRAVINGS./ SECOND EDITION./ London;/ PRINTED FOR J. BUMPUS, No. 6, HOLBORN-BARS; AND SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND/ JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW./ 1818./ W. WILSON, Printer, 4, Greville-Street, Hatton-Garden, London."

This book details 66 different trades, and provides engraved illustrations of pertinent tools, machinery, etc. The book is part of a group of publications released in the early 19th century addressing a gap in trade related information. In the preface, the author writes of his goal to update and expand the last major English trade related publication, "Mechanick Exercises," by Joseph Moxon. Moxon's book was first published in 1678 and stood as the primary English publication focusing on trades until the release of books like "The Circle of Mechanical Arts" in the first quarter of the 19th century. Martin achieved his goal by including such diverse trades as architecture, basket making, coopering, engraving, and glass making, to name a few. The descriptions largely represent trades prior to industrialization.