Smith, Jerome V. C.

Scientific Tracts and Family Lyceum. Designed for Instruction and Entertainment, and adapted to Schools, Lyceums and Families [volume titles]... [34 of 36 issues from Jan 1, 1834 through June 15, 1835]

Boston, Massachusetts: Various 1834-5. 3 volumes uniformly bound containing 34 (of 36) issues of this periodical published from Jan 1, 1834 through June 15, 1935. 1/2 leather over marbled boards. Binding spines have red leather gilt labels "Scientific Tracts" and gilt embossed '4', '5' and '6'. Bindings are worn with spines coming detached. Previously stab-stitched before rebinding in this form. Original issue wrappers, if any, not present. Contents sound, textblocks firm. 5 x 7 inches. Occasional woodcuts in the text, a few page corners turned, and an occasional spot or smudge. Generally bright and clean internally. Specific issues and pagination for each volume as follows.

Volume marked '4': Boston,Massachusetts: Allen & Ticknor, 1834. Vol. I...New Series.
Issue titles: Scientific Tracts and Family Lyceum
iv, [37]-388 pages. Eleven of twelve issues Jan 1-June 15 1834 lacking Jan 1 issue
January 1, 1834: presumed missing based on pagination
January 15, 1834: [37]-68 pages
Feb 1, 1834: [69]-100 pages
Feb 15, 1834: [101]-132 pages
2 plates (J. R. Parker's Semaphoric Telegraph; Universal Marine Telegraph)
Mar 1, 1834: [133]-164 pages
Mar 15, 1834: [165]-196 pages
Apr 1, 1834: [197]-228 pages
Apr 15, 1834: [229]-260 pages.
May 1, 1834: [261]- 292 pages.
May 15, 1834: [293]-324 pages.
June 1, 1834: [325]-356 pages.
June 15, 1834: [357]-388 pages.

Volume marked '5': Boston [ Massachusetts ] : William D. Ticknor From Light & Horton's Press, 1834. Vol II.......New Series
Issue titles: Scientific Tracts and Family Lyceum
iv, [5]-288, [261]-388 pages. Eleven of twelve issues Jul 1-Dec 15 1834 lacking Oct 15 issue.
Jul 1, 1834: [5]-36 pages.
Jul 15, 1834: [37]-68 pages.
Aug 1, 1834: [69]-100 pages.
Aug 15, 1834: [101]-132 pages.
Sep 1, 1834: [133]-164 pages.
Sep 15, 1834: [165]-196 pages.
Oct 1, 1834: [197]-228 pages.
Oct 15, 1834: missing
Nov. 1, 1834: [261]-292 pages.
Nov 15, 1834: [293]-324 pages.
Dec 1, 1834: [325]-356 pages.
Dec 15: 1834: [357]-388 pages.

Volume marked '6': Boston [ Massachusetts ] : William D. Ticknor Corner of Washington and School Sts. Vol. III...New Series.
Volume title remains the same, Issues are simply "Scientific Tracts"
4, [5]-384 pages. Twelve issues Jan 1-June 15 1835 complete.
Jan 1, 1835: [5]-36 pages.
January 15, 1835: [37]-68 pages
Feb 1, 1835: [69]-100 pages
Feb 15, 1835: [101]-132 pages
Mar 1, 1835: [133]-164 pages
Mar 15, 1835: [165]-196 pages
Apr 1, 1835: [197]-228 pages
Apr 15, 1835: [229]-260 pages.
May 1, 1835: [261]-292 pages.
May 15, 1835: [293]-324 pages.
June 1, 1835: [325]-356 pages.
June 15, 1835: [357]-384 pages. Good. Boards. [28515]


An interesting periodical containing much scientific content of the day. Some articles appear specifically for the periodical, others taken or summarized from other sources. The editor ("conductor") Smith was well educated and had many interests in publishing.

"Jerome Van Crowninsfield Smith (July 20, 1800 – August 21, 1879) was an American physician, author and politician, serving as the fourteenth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1854 to 1855.

After attending public school in his home town of Conway, New Hampshire, Smith earned a medical degree from Brown University in 1818 and graduated from the medical department of Williams College in 1822. In the following year, he took a position in Pittsfield, Massachusetts as lecturer in anatomy at the newly established Berkshire Medical Institution (later, Berkshire Medical College). In that same year (1823), he became the founding editor of the Boston Medical Intelligencer. After the publication was renamed to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal in 1828, he continued as editor through 1856. Smith then established his own publication, The Medical World, which he edited from 1856 to 1857.He also edited the short-lived Bowen's Boston News-Letter and City Record (1825-6).

In civic affairs, Smith served as quarantine physician for the port of Boston (1826–48), and then ran for mayor of the city in five successive years before being elected in November 1853. … In 1855, during his second term as mayor, Dr. Smith was awarded an honorary degree from Dartmouth College.

Smith served on numerous corporate boards, including those of several banks and railroads. He toured Europe and the Near East in 1850-51 and while abroad served as a juror for the American Industrial Exhibition at the London World's Fair.

In 1863,he removed to New York City, where he assumed the post of Professor of Anatomy at the New York Medical College and Charity Hospital.

During the Civil War, he volunteered to serve with the United States Christian Commission and was stationed with Union forces in New Orleans between October 1863 and August 1865. He was commissioned as lieutenant colonel, 83rd Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry (Old Organization) and was appointed by General Nathaniel P. Banks to head a commission overseeing sanitation in the city.” (wikipedia)

Price: $275.00