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A complete running set of the minutes of proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Twenty-five leatherbound volumes with gilt titles to the spines, marble paper covered boards and 269 foldout plates and four fold-out tables. A scarce set running complete from 1878 to 1883. Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineers. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150 countries around the world. In 2008, its total membership stands at more than 80,000. The late 18th century and early 19th century saw the founding of many learned societies and professional bodies (for example, the Royal Society and the Law Society). Groups calling themselves civil engineers had been meeting for some years from the late 18th century, notably the Society of Civil Engineers formed in 1771 by John Smeaton (renamed the Smeatonian Society after his death). At that time, formal engineering was limited to military engineers, and in the spirit of self help prevalent at the time, the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded as the world's first professional engineering body. The initiative to found the Institution was taken in 1818 by three young engineers, Henry Robinson Palmer (23), James Jones (28) and Joshua Field (32), who organised an inaugural meeting on 2 January 1818, at the Kendal Coffee House in Fleet Street. The institution made little headway until a key step was taken - the appointment of Thomas Telford as the first President of the body. Greatly respected within the profession and blessed with numerous contacts across the industry and in government circles, he was instrumental in drumming up membership and getting a Royal Charter for ICE in 1828. This official recognition helped establish ICE as the pre-eminent organisation for engineers of all disciplines. After Telford"s death in 1834, the organisation moved into premises in Great George Street in the heart of Westminster in 1839, and began to publish learned papers on engineering topics. Its members, notably William Cubitt, were also prominent in the organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851. In some respects ICE was ahead of its time, providing a focus for engineers from other disciplines. Mechanical engineer and tool-maker Henry Maudslay was an early member and Joseph Whitworth presented one of the earliest papers it was not until 1847 that the Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established (with George Stephenson as its first President). By the end of the 19th century, ICE had introduced examinations for professional engineering qualifications to help ensure and maintain high standards among its members a role it continues today. In half calf bindings with marbled paper boards. There is some wear to the extremities including heavy rubbing to the leather and boards and some bumping to the tops and tails of the spines. The rear outer hinge of Volume IV of the 1880-81 and Volume III and IV of the 1789-80 series is beginning to split at the bottom. The bindings are tight and firm with all covers and pages fully attached. Internally the pages are generally clean and bright with the occasional handling mark and odd spot. In Volume III of 1882-83 series Plate 9 has been bound before Plate 8. Good Only.
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