New British Atlas, Containing a Complete Set of County Maps

Large quarto (365 x 255 mm.), full contemporary diced calf, ornate blind and gilt panelled, ribbed spine with ornate gilt raised bands, gilt title and gilt edged, marbled endpapers. With double page engraved title corrected to 1831, three folding general maps backed on contemporary cloth, 2 double page maps of North & South Wales, 43 county maps, and a folding map showing parliamentary representation in England & Wales for June 1832 backed on publisher's linen, all in early wash colour, Somerset with centrefold split, otherwise a good example. The first true use of this series of plates was in Robert Rowe's 'English Atlas' published in 1816. Only two examples of that atlas survive. Rowe (c.1775-1843) was a publisher and engraver but it is as the latter that he is most noted. It is possible that he both drew and engraved the maps in 'The English Atlas'. Amongst his earliest works are the engraving of two sets of playing cards of the English Counties. Both are exceedingly rare; those of John Fairburn, 1798, and Joseph Allen, 1811. Rowe continued selling the county maps until at least 1825. The date of their acquisition by Henry Teesdale (1776-1855) is not known. Born in London, his first known publication was a reissue of Christopher Greenwood's large-scale map of Yorkshire in 1828. Teesdale was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society shortly after its foundation in 1830. The earliest known edition of this work is 1829, the date of issue is derived from the wording of the title 'the whole carefully revised & corrected to the year, 1829.' It was published in partnership with John Jordan and William Colling Hobson as Henry Teesdale & Co. All reference to Rowe is removed and Teesdale's imprint added to each map. A new larger general map of England and Wales replaces the earlier one and two matching maps of Scotland and Ireland are added. The oval titles to each of the maps are replaced with a simple county name. The early railways in Durham, Lancashire, and Surrey are included.There were ensuing editions similarly dated 1830 and as here 1831. All three issues contain gradual improvements and alterations to the plates. The Reform Bill of 1832 introduced big changes in the electoral system in England and Wales. Prior to the Bill the population electing each member varied considerably. Many rural areas were very small and dominated by powerful landowners. Since the industrial revolution, several large cities now had very large populations. This power was now more evenly distributed, and the electorate increased from about 400,000 to 650,000, or about one in five adult males.This example is a late issue as it includes bound into the end a large folding map illustrating the new parliamentary representation in England & Wales for June 1832. It includes an inset plate of London with the Boroughs coloured individually. Major revisions to the plates themselves in the next edition would reflect this new data. The atlas continued to be published through 1842. Provenance: inscription on the recto of the title 'E J Gratrex Davies April 29th 1897' most likely the prominent barrister (1848-99); cute poem affixed on front free endpaper by 'Gratrex Davies'; Clive A. Burden Ltd., July 2000; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 190 & 227-9; Carroll (1996) 71; Chubb (1927) 414; Smith (1982); Tooley's Dictionary (1999-2004); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).…