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 (1974) 103.