The Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, in one form or another, is the oldest aeronautical publication in the World, with a continuous record of publication.

The Aeronautical Society of Great Britain was founded on January 12th, 1866, and the first report of the proceedings of the Society was published in 1867 by the firm of Cassell, Petter and Galpin, of Ludgate Hill, E.C., price Is. 6d.

It was a bold venture to start an aeronautical society in those days, and it is worth while recalling the year 1866. It was the year Prussia became head of the new German confederation which was the beginning of modern Germany, and it was the year that the first treaty of alliance was signed between Italy and Germany.

In those days Dickens, Browning, Tennyson were the giants of their time. Women wore crinolines, shawls and poke bonnets, and men light trousers with frock coats and top hats.