John Morris Geological Diagram Journal — 1850s Stratigraphy Notebook

In the 1850s, as geology transformed from gentlemanly curiosity into rigorous science, a London publisher named James Reynolds commissioned a series of 44 colored lithographic diagrams to teach the new discipline to a rapidly expanding audience of students, field geologists, and curious amateurs. The diagram that wraps this journal is one of them — a stratigraphic cross-section of the Earth’s crust, drawn by lithographer John Morris with the precision of a scientist and the eye of an artist.

The diagram shows what lies beneath: layers of limestone, sandstone, shale, and coal, each color-coded and labeled, interrupted by faults and folds, cut through by igneous intrusions. It is a map of deep time — each stratum representing not just a rock type but an environment, a climate, a chapter in the Earth’s four-billion-year autobiography. Published at 174 Strand, London, between 1850 and 1860, these diagrams were essential tools in Victorian classrooms and field expeditions alike.

Product Details

• Format: Hardcover journal
• Pages: 150 lined pages (75 sheets) with perforations for easy removal
• Binding: Casewrap sewn binding — flexible and lay-flat
• Dimensions: 5.75 × 8 inches
• Weight: 100 g
• Cover: Matte laminated full-wrap print
• Illustration: John Morris, geological stratigraphic cross-section (1850–1860)
• Publisher: James Reynolds, 174 Strand, London
• Source: Series of 44 scientific teaching diagrams

Perfect For

• Geologists and earth science enthusiasts
• Field researchers and geology students
• Rock collectors and stratigraphy fans
• Paleontologists and natural history lovers
• Anyone who appreciates 19th-century scientific illustration
• A beautiful gift for those who love geology and deep time

The Story Behind the Diagram

The science that made these diagrams necessary, the publisher who created them, and what it means to read the Earth’s history in layers of stone — read the full story on our blog →