John Weale

John Weale (1791 – 18 December 1862, in Maida Vale) was an English publisher of popular scientific, architectural, engineering and educational works.

Life He first began publishing 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. Edmund Beckett Denison, Clock and Watch Making, London, 1850 Alan Stevenson, On the History, Construction, and Illumination of Lighthouses, London, 1850 London Exhibited in 1851, London, 1851; 2nd edit., 1852. Joseph Glynn, On the Power of Water, as Applied to Drive Flour Mills, and to Give Motion to Turbines and other Hydrostatic Engines Designs and Examples of Cottages, Villas, and Country Houses, London, 1857. Examples for Builders, Carpenters, and Joiners, London, 1857. Old English and French Ornaments, Comprising 244 Designs. Collected by John Weale, London, 1858 John George Swindell, Rudimentary Treatise on Well-Digging, Boring, and Pump-Work, London, 1861 Thomas Roger Smith, Acoustics, London, 1861 William Snow Harris, On Galvanism, London, 1869

Serial publications Wealed edited: Weale's Quarterly Papers on Architecture, London, 1843–5, 4 vols. Weale's Quarterly Papers on Engineering, London, 1843–6, 6 vols.

Book series Weale's Classical Series Weale's Educational Series Weale's Rudimentary Series Weale's Scientific & Technical Series

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 were continued after his death, first by Virtue Brothers (James Sprent Virtue) and by Crosby Lockwood and Son. The Rudimentary Series was later followed by the Weale's Scientific & Technical Series (1881-1923), published 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).

Steam Navigation

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 cover price in August 1839 was twelve shillings.