GREAT EXHIBITION - Robert Hunt.

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Hunt's Hand-Book to the Official Catalogues: First edition of this guide to the Great Exhibition of 1851. This work includes a list of some of the displayed objects and a floor plan of the 100,000 exhibits. The exhibition was visited by Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, and Karl Marx.Hunt's handbook offered the attendants information on the 8 miles of exhibits from over 25 countries. His work intended to teach the reader about the Victorian material science, chemistry, engineering, and design featured in the exhibition. Hunt enlisted the help of several professionals, such as William Brough, who wrote about the printing presses, and Professor Edward Forbes, who wrote on the uses of flax and display of wines and spices on show. "From folding pianos, and controversial, semi-nude Greek statues to the largest diamond in the world, The Great Exhibition of 1851 was unlike anything that had been seen before. It was a triumphant celebration of the most extraordinary achievements of the Victorian age, from industry, culture and engineering - gathered from all four corners of the world. 'Every conceivable invention!' as Queen Victoria wrote in her private diary"(Royal Parks). Robert Hunt (1807-1887) was a chemist and photographer. He worked as a professor of mechanical science for the Royal School of Mines. In 1858 Hunt and the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society founded the Miners Association.

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