A sketch of the origin and progress of steam navigation

A most attractive example of this scarce treatise richly illustrated, finely bound and presented by the author to his backer the Manchester manufacturer Robert Gardner.

Woodcroft (1803-79) was a man of many talents. An industrial archaeologist, a pioneer of marine propulsion as well as the designer of major improvements to the machinery for the manufacture of textiles. Passionate about steam engines he was responsible for saving Stevenson's Rocket for the nation and also founded the Patent Library and the Patent Museum whose collections are now held by the Science Museum in South Kensington, London. His backer Robert Gardner was a textile manufacturer, who in partnership with Sir Thomas Bazley (and others) owned mills throughout the North West of England.