I read the version on Archive Internet here.
Summary
I have decided to find and give this book a read after reading much about William Playfair, while also triggered by my reading of "A History of Data Visualization and Graphic Communication".
This book represents an epoch in modern data visualisation. In this book, William Playfair created 3 main charts that are used still widely today when we visualise data - the fundamentals of charts, graphs, and data visuals. They are the bar, line, and area charts. Employed on many of the business dashboards today, the defining charts are found in the book in the data vizzes mainly on historical trade numbers around the world. In other words, this is not strictly a data viz book, but an economics and history book.
I notice the version that is on Archive Internet has some printing problems as the letter "f" is often used to replace the letter "s' in words. An example can be seen in the image in the opening. I am not sure if this is sounded out anywhere else online as I cannot find information as to why the printing is so weird. I have tried finding a copy on Google Books, but they either have the same problem or they are the same scans.
Things I Like
1. A glimpse of the beginning. This book allows readers now to see the first basic charts in their original format. It is a sight to marvel at as we see the charts in their original intents. How an economics book transforms data viz is an interesting topic to delve into.
2. A look at charts that are made without a computer. The charts in the book are unexpectedly colourful and well-illustrated (using copper plates), considering this is well before the age of computers. It is certainly not only inspiring to see how much we have come in terms of technology in generating data vizzes, but also awe to see it done with hands. I have tried drawing charts in my school days but they are never this good.
3. A view of how charts are explained. They are accompanied by how the data displayed should be read and analyses of the charts. It is a textbook way of explaining charts. This emphasises the need for creators to connect the images and their text.
Final Verdict: A recommended read for anyone into the history and origins of charts.