The engraver and undertaker of the work is Joseph Johnson. It was first published in 1788 and only one example extant bears the series of maps. They are indeed not called for until the third edition although this second edition of 1790 is considered the first illustrated. Editions with maps continued until 1809. The preface to the work is signed by John Aikin (1747-1822) who has the distinction of being named in Karl Marx’s Das Kapital ‘What would the good Dr. Aikin say if he could rise from his grave and see the Manchester of today’. Provenance: ownership inscription inside front cover of Frank Millock dated 1808; private English collection. Carroll 48; Chubb 286; Shirley BL T.Aik 1a.