THE SHELF

In 1853, when the London Zoo unveiled the first large public “fish tank” or “Aquatic Vivarium”, as it was known at the time, it offered millions of people the opportunity to view fascinating aquatic life up close.  It was Philip Henry Gosse, an  English naturalist, who was the first person to introduce and popularize  the term “aquarium”. In 1854, Gosse published his book, The Aquarium, which sold extremely well and can be credited with setting  off the Victorian craze for household aquariums. Americans were soon on-board and just as passionate about this new hobby.  In 1858, Henry D. Butler published the first popular instruction manual for constructing and maintaining a family aquarium.  Butler’s book states.

The Aquarium has become, within a short period, almost a
necessary luxury in every well-appointed household, both of
Europe and America. It has wholly superseded the old
fashioned fish-globe in the popular affection. Its neatness
and elegance ; its fascinating eombhiation of subtle philosophy
and commonplace every day facts ; its ever-changing,
never-wearying feature, of kaleidoscopic novelty ; its tempting
peculiarity, to thoughtful minds, as an introduction to the
study of nobler and more recondite pages in the volume of
natural history ; all constitute an attraction as chaste as it is
beautiful, as refined as it is irresistible.

Fresh Water Aquarium

Description:

Butler, Henry D. The family aquarium, or, Aqua vivarium :a “new pleasure” for the domestic circle : being a familiar and complete instructor upon the subject of the construction, fitting-up, stocking, and maintenance of the fluvial and marine aquaria or “river and ocean gardens”. New York : Dick & Fitzgerald, c1858.

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:2012521

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

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