Buy this book on-line

WALKER, John & Charles : Hobson' s Fox-Hunting Atlas; Containing Separate Maps of Every County in England, and The Three Ridings of Yorkshire

J. and C. Walker, 9, Castle Street, Holborn, London, [1860]

Folio (365 x 250 mm.), modern half calf preserving original red cloth boards, ornate gilt title to upper board, spine with blue calf gilt title label affixed, with marbled endpapers. With title page, Reference to the Hunts and 42 lithographic maps in early outline colour. Cheshire bound after Cumberland, Dorset with repaired centrefold, Lancashire with repaired tear, otherwise in good condition.

The 'British Atlas' was first published jointly by John and Charles Walker with Longman, Rees & Co. in 1837, the year Queen Victoria ascended the throne. It proved to be a popular atlas with a number of editions up to 1880. Originally the atlas was issued with 47 maps, those of Scotland and Ireland present here were added at a later date. In 1850, lithographic transfers were made in partnership with William Colling Hobson to create 'Hobson’s Fox Hunting Atlas', another atlas which was successful. John and Charles Walker were well known engravers and publishers of the nineteenth century. Amongst other works they contributed to were the engraving of the maps for Christopher and John Greenwood’s 'Atlas of the Counties of England' 1834 and Lewis’ 'Topographical Dictionary of England' 1831. This appears to be a very early if not first edition. As has been commented by various carto-bibliographers the Walker's were very casual about the usage of the numerous states they produced and often it is hard to determine the age of a particular edition. This is particularly so with 'Hobson's Fox-Hunting Atlas' which was never dated. Provenance: ownership notation of 'Archibald Travies 1853 from ?' on title; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 232-3; Carroll (1996) 105; Hodson (1984-97) 103.

WALKER, John & Charles : Hobson' s Fox-Hunting Atlas; Containing Separate Maps of Every County in England, and The Three Ridings of Yorkshire

J. and C. Walker, 9, Castle Street, Holborn, London, [1852]

Folio (360 x 245 mm.), contemporary half calf, red cloth boards gilt ruled, with central floral oval gilt title complete with gilt fox, horn and whip, rebacked with gilt ruled raised bands, gilt titles, with marbled endpapers. With typographic title page, Reference to the Hunts and 42 lithographic maps in early outline colour, otherwise in good condition.

John Walker (fl.1813-73) was a brother to Charles Walker (1799?-1872) and in about 1827 they formed the partnership of J. & C. Walker. They were well known engravers and publishers of the nineteenth century. They also produced engraved maps for other works including Samuel Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary of England, 1831 and Greenwood’s Atlas of the Counties of England, 1834. There father, also John Walker, produced a number of charts for the Admiralty and was a founder member of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. Inspiration for the British Atlas might have come from the success of the large folio Greenwood atlas. Preparation for it began in 1835 was first published jointly with Longman, Rees & Co. on 1 March 1837 and dedicated to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria who later that year ascended to the throne. It proved to be a popular atlas with a number of editions up to 1880. Originally the atlas was issued with 47 maps; those of Scotland and Ireland were added at a later date. Sometime in the late 1840s the dates in the imprints of individual maps were all removed. In 1850 lithographic transfers were made in partnership with William Colling Hobson (d.c.1878) to create Hobson’s Fox Hunting Atlas, another atlas which was successful. Dating this work is particularly difficult at it was never dated. Internal evidence based on the presentation of railway data is the most useful guide. Hobson had already worked with the Walker's on producing his large scale maps of Durham, 1840, and Yorkshire in 1843, both engraved by the Walker's. In this example the maps of Lancashire and Westmoreland do not show any hunts and are in fact intaglio printed. Provenance: ownership notation of 'Archibald Travies 1853 from ?' on title; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 232-3; Carroll (1996) 105; Chubb (1027) 532; Hodson (1974) 103.

WALKER, John & Charles : Hobson' s Fox-Hunting Atlas; Containing Separate Maps of Every County in England, and The Three Ridings of Yorkshire

J. and C. Walker, 37, Castle Street, Holborn, London, [c.1860]

Folio (360 x 240 mm.), full contemporary red calf, boards with extremely ornate gilt and blind panels, upper board with central green calf gilt panelled title label, spine with raised bands, compartments triple gilt ruled, each with ornate gilded central feature, with marbled endpapers. With typographic title page, Reference to the Hunts and 42 lithographic maps in early outline colour, otherwise in good condition.

John Walker (fl.1813-73) was a brother to Charles Walker (1799?-1872) and in about 1827 they formed the partnership of J. & C. Walker. They were well known engravers and publishers of the nineteenth century. They also produced engraved maps for other works including Samuel Lewis’ 'Topographical Dictionary of England', 1831 and Greenwood’s 'Atlas of the Counties of England', 1834. There father, also John Walker, produced a number of charts for the Admiralty and was a founder member of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. Inspiration for the 'British Atlas' might have come from the success of the large folio Greenwood atlas. Preparation for it began in 1835 was first published jointly with Longman, Rees & Co. on 1 March 1837 and dedicated to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria who later that year ascended to the throne. It proved to be a popular atlas with a number of editions up to 1880. Originally the atlas was issued with 47 maps; those of Scotland and Ireland were added at a later date. Sometime in the late 1840s the dates in the imprints of individual maps were all removed. In 1850 lithographic transfers were made in partnership with William Colling Hobson (d.c.1878) to create 'Hobson’s Fox Hunting Atlas', another atlas which was successful. Dating this work is particularly difficult as it was never dated. Internal evidence based on the presentation of railway data is the most useful guide. Hobson had already worked with the Walker's on producing his large scale maps of Durham, 1840, and Yorkshire in 1843, both engraved by the Walker's. In this example the title is slightly reset and now bears the imprint address above which they occupied from 1855-73. Provenance: with inscription on front free endpaper of 'To Colin from Spencer Feb 11th// 1892'; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 232-3; Carroll (1996) 105; Chubb (1927) 532; Hodson (1974) 103; Nicholson (2007).

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.