John Thomson was born in 1777 to a merchant father in Edinburgh. He started business as a bookseller in Hunter Square, Edinburgh, in 1807. His first major publication was the ‘Traveller’s Guide’ of 1798 which ran to nine editions. ‘A New General Atlas’ was a superb folio production issued in 1817 with the assistance of several partners to allay the cost. The engraving work was split between the various partners in Edinburgh and London. It was the largest atlas published in Scotland to date and was successful with several later editions.

This map is made up of the two maps of Scotland included in that atlas; ‘Northern Part of Scotland’ and ‘Southern Part of Scotland’. It was issued in 1825, which date is found on the paper title affixed to the slipcase and priced at 9 shillings. Moir (1973) no. I pp. 129 & 221; Phillips (1909-) no. 731; Withers, Charles ‘Introductory Essay to Facsimile of the atlas’.