In Monthly Volumes, each containing Three Hundred and Twenty Pages, and from Thirty to a Hundred Engravings,

Price Half-a-Crown, Beautifully Bound.

The Age in which we live is essentially of a practical character, and the predominant principle influencing all classes is a marked desire for cheapness. Cheapness, however, is too often found without excellence, and hence this proposition to supply a deficiency at present existing in the popular literature of this country.

For some time past the projectors of the present undertaking have felt interested in watching the result of an experiment simultaneously made by the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Book Trades; and, having seen that cheap, and occasionally indifferent literature, "got up" in a most inferior manner, will sell, they feel assured that good and judiciously selected works, having the additional advantage of COPIOUS ILLUSTRATION, being produced with the utmost attention to general excellence, and published at the moderate price fixed upon, cannot fail to secure extensive patronage from the Reading Public. The principle upon which they can undertake to supply good books at a low rate is, that being themselves the actual producers, they are enabled to save the public the expense of all intermediate profit.

As a practical explanation of the above views, Three Sample Volumes of the "National Illustrated Library" were published on the 31st of March. It will be observed that these volumes are widely different in character, in order that the public may form some idea of the extent and variety of the series generally. Afterwards, one volume will be issued monthly. Each volume will contain at least 320 crown octavo pages, illustrated according to the requirements of the subject-matter, by from 30 to 100 illustrations, and will be strongly bound in ornamental cloth boards. Thus, for 30s. a year, in the course of a short period, a Library of great extent and interest may be formed, which shall furnish materials for instruction and amusement during the course of a long life.

The chief advantages which this series of works will present over all others—more especially the closely printed double column editions, and the new fashioned, though equally objectionable, Shilling books, with their numerous errors, thin paper, and flimsy binding, are the following:—

1. A carefully Revised Text.

2. Judicious Explanatory Foot Notes.

3. Engravings really Illustrating the Text.

4. A new and legible Type.

5. Good Paper and Printing.

6. Strong neat Binding.