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. Their father, also John Walker, produced several 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 several editions up to 1880. Originally the atlas was issued with 47 maps as here; those of Scotland and Ireland were added later. This second edition recognises the accession to the throne with the title now referring to Queen Victoria. The ‘British Atlas’ is known for the instability of its content. Despite the date of 1838 on the title page, eleven of the maps bears dates of 1839, the latest being those of Derbyshire and Warwickshire with 1 March. Beresiner (1983) pp. 232-3; not in Chubb (1927), refer 476; Nicholson (2007); Smith (1982) pp. 213-5; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).