The ‘New British Traveller’ is a book in five parts. It was the work of a ‘Society of Gentleman’ who assisted George Walpoole in its writing. However, there is some doubt as to the genuine identity of some of the contributors. The maps used are found on twenty-three plates. Hodson in his detailed study states ‘It seems that maps [Orkney etc.] and [Ulster], and not maps [Scotland] and [Ireland], were originally intended to be present in the work since, from the direction to the binder, they are described … and it is maps [Orkney etc.] and [Ulster] which are found in early variants. The presence of these two maps … suggests that the original plan was to include a full set of maps of multi-county districts of Scotland, together with the provinces or Ireland. If so it seems that this scheme was not proceeded with and that instead the general maps … were commissioned from Kitchin and, after a delay, introduced to the volume.’ This is an example of Hodson’s early variant A, its earliest form, in which the two maps of Orkney etc. and Ulster are present. The date on the typographic title page is still present as described by Hodson and the general map of England and Wales is in its first state. A reference below highlights the later availability of new maps of Scotland and Ireland. Provenance: private English collection. Chubb (1927) 251, Hodson (1984-97) 269 variant A.