From his Repository of the Arts at 101 The Strand, London, the Anglo-German engineer, printer and entrepreneur Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834) published numerous lavishly illustrated books on literature, art, fashion and architecture. His shop, one of the first in London to be lit by gas, provided up-to-date information about the latest fashions, and became a popular haunt for sophisticated members of the upper classes.

In 1814 and 1815 he published two-volume histories of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, each beautifully illustrated with many hand-coloured lithographic prints. The text was written by William Combe (1742-1823), a professional miscellaneous writer, and the colour plates were engraved by John Samuel Agar (1773-1858) based on original watercolour portraits by Thomas Uwins (1782-1857).

The chapters on academic dress give a valuable snapshot of the academic and official dress in use at both Oxford and Cambridge at the beginning of the nineteenth century, as well as much detailed information about the various members and officers of the Universities. This volume reprints this material, together with all of the original colour plates, and a short introduction including two previously unpublished portraits.