Historical information

The owner of this textbook, Cornelius Cooke Reed, was an early settler. He was born in England and lived and died at Portland, Victoria (ca. 1880 - 23 June 1876). The Hamilton Spectator printed his Obituary: "The death of Mr. Cornelius C. Reed, a very old resident of Portland, is reported."

The Portland Guardian reported on 23 December 1857, that "Cornelius C. Reed obtained a Hawker's license for the year 1868".

The book was used with gauging tools to calculate the quantity of liquid in a cask or barrel. The calculation could then be used to charge a fee or tax. The book would have been used in the 18th or 19th centuries, when Customs and Tariffs were calculated manually.

Significance

This book is important for its use in the centuries before modern technology. It was used to calculate the quantity of liquid in a container such as a cask or barrel. It would have been used to work out alcohol taxes or charges for freight and cartage. It represents an early mathematical reference, which was later replaced by slide rules, calculators and computers.
It is significant as a rare example of an early textbook used for ullaging.

Physical description

Book Title: Explanation and Use of The Tables for Measurement of Casks
Brown, hardcover book with gold embossed lines on the spine and dark tape on the front cover beside the spine. Handwritten inscriptions are inside the covers and throughout the book. The book is well-worn and has several repairs.
Cornelius Cooke Reed of Portland, Victoria, was the owner. It is well-worn and has been repaired.

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten signatures: "Cornelius Cooke Reed" "C. C. Reed"
Handwritten location: "Portland"