David Jenkins is at the University of York and has for many years conducted research into the early years of insurance, notably fire insurance and other types of industrial insurance. Takau Yoneyama is at Kyoto Sangyo University and was joint organiser of the 1st International Conference of the History of Insurance Business in 1996.

'The narrative that can be read between the lines of these volumes tells of humanity's search for ways to guard against the potentially catastrophic consequences of loss. No library of a university with a school of business should be without them.' The Journal of Risk and Insurance 'a treasure chest ' Business History

• Volume 1 FIRE, Volume 2 FIRE, Volume 3 LIFE, Volume 4 LIFE, Volume 5 LIFE, Volume 6 LIFE, Volume 7 MARINE, Volume 8 MARINE