PREFACE. 
Soon after the Museum or Economic Geology was founded in 
Craig’s Court, Charing Cross, a small guide-book was written 
by the late Mr. Thomas Sop with, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and 
published in 1843 by Mr. John Murray. On the transference 
of the Museum, in 1851, to the present building in Jermyn 
Street, a “Descriptive Guide” was officially prepared by the 
late Mr. Robert Hunt, the keeper of Mining Records, and was 
published in 1857. A second edition was issued in 1859. Eight 
years afterwards an amplified edition was prepared by 
Mr. Rudler, at that time assistant-curator ; and in 1877 a fourth 
edition was published. 
The work has now been out of print for several years ; but, in 
view of changes which were pending in the arrangement of the 
Museum, the preparation of a new edition has been delayed. 
In now publishing the guide-book afresh it has seemed 
desirable, for several reasons, to modify its original form. So 
much additional matter had been introduced into the successive 
editions, that the book had grown too large ; and in order to 
keep the price within moderate limits a type was used, which 
many visitors found inconveniently small. In certain parts, 
moreover, the work had perhaps acquired rather too much the 
form of an inventory. 
The curator, Mr. F. W. Rudler, has therefore prepared a new 
guide; under the title of a “ Handbook,” in which, while the 
essential parts of the earlier work have been retained, great 
changes have necessarily been made in order to bring it into 
harmony with the present condition of the Museum. The book 
has been, in large part, re-written, and now contains, it is hoped, 
all the information which the general visitor is likely to need, 
given in such detail as is consistent with its moderate size. 
e 87039. 5000.— 1/96. Wt. 2629. A 2 
