Johnson's New Universal Cyclopaedia: Scientific and Popular Treasury of Useful Knowledge Volume Vol 4

Johnson's New Universal Cyclopaedia was first published in the mid-1870s, serving as a comprehensive reference work during an era of rapid expansion in scientific and industrial knowledge. Edited by Frederick A.P. Barnard, a prominent educator and the tenth president of Columbia College, the series aimed to provide accessible yet rigorous information to the American public. Its design reflected the Victorian ambition for encyclopedic learning, combining traditional scholarship with an increasing focus on modern scientific terminology and industrial development.

The publication was structured to serve both as a scientific treasury and a popular reference tool, often featuring contributions from academic experts of the time. While contemporary reviews praised its breadth and the intellectual authority of its contributors, the work was also subject to the evolving standards of historical and scientific thought in the late 19th century. Volume four represents a specific segment of this expansive project, documenting the state of knowledge across various disciplines before the turn of the century.