James Duncan (fl.1833-45) is thought to have started as early as 1805 but the ‘Complete County Atlas’ is his best-known work. The maps earlier history involving William Ebden (fl.1811-30), about whom we also know little, is complicated and was detailed in David Smith’s article. At first, they were issued loose only, it appears over several years with varying owners. Throughout the series the maps appear to have been uniformly engraved by Edward Hoare (fl.1822-40) and James Reeves (1801?-68). Smith praises the maps stating, ‘they are beautifully engraved and their relatively large size, compared to most other county maps of the period, ensures unusually clear depiction of a wide range of features.’ There can be no better testimony of his work than the fact that several future series were derived from Ebden. Those in T. Laurie Murray’s ‘Atlas of the English Counties’, 1830, Sidney Hall for the ‘Topographical Dictionary’ of 1832 and Samuel Lewis’ ‘Topographical Dictionary’ from 1831.

Duncan deleted all reference to Ebden and others and added his own imprint. More importantly he added information drawn from the Reform Act of 1832. All this work indicates that acquisition might have been some time earlier. A general map of England and Wales was added to make a full complement of 44 maps (Yorkshire being in two sheets). The general map records in black boxes the number of county members being returned to Parliament. The maps are arranged by Circuits, six for England and two for Wales. The order is laid out in the double page statistical sheet following the title and commences with Sussex. This unusual format may explain why in this example a manuscript Index was written. None of the maps yet refer to railways except for Durham which specifically says at the end of the title ‘With the Several Railways’. The title records the price for the atlas at 2 guineas plain as here and four guineas coloured. This example is dated 1827, an error for 1837. Two earlier issues are known: untitled c.1833 and undated in 1835. Provenance: Donald Hodson (1933-2016) collection, carto-bibliographer. Carroll (1996) 85; refer Chubb (1927) 455; Smith, D. (1991).