Preface to the First Edition.

In the preparation of the Catalogue of The Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880, the compiler has adopted and adhered to the classification announced in the original prospectus of the Exhibition. An Introduction containing a variety of statistical and other interesting and useful information precedes the List of Exhibits from each country, and will be found of value, as showing the resources and productions of each. Plans showing the various Courts, the Exhibition Grounds, and the places of entry and exit, will be found at the commencement of each volume; and the distribution of the space in the Picture Gallery precedes the Fine Arts Catalogue. The Catalogue is, in many respects, very imperfect. The compilation of the lists has had to be made, in most instances, rather from the applications sent in by intending exhibitors than from the exhibits themselves; and the result has been that some of the applicants having failed to avail themselves of the space allotted to them, their names and items will have to be expunged, while the particulars of others which were entered late were not in time for insertion. These defects will, however, be rectified in the second and subsequent editions of the Catalogue, and the work rendered as complete as possible.