A very rare early wash coloured atlas of Scotland. Thomas Robert Brown (1764-1820) was the presumed son of James Brown who started as a bookseller in Parliament Close, Edinburgh, sometime before 1773. In 1786 the shop changed names to T. Brown and at first Thomas is described as an engraver. In 1789 he moved to 1 North Bridge where he remained until his death.

This atlas is undated and has been given the date [1800] by Chubb, however Moir in the R.S.G.S. book on ‘Early Maps of Scotland’ records that work began publication in 1802 and the last of the maps was issued in 1807. It records just two examples: at the National Library of Scotland and Cambridge University Library. To this can be added this example and one other we have owned along with one now recorded at Glasgow University. The contents leaf records the price coloured in outline at £1 11s. 6d. and fully coloured £1 14s.

Provenance: with manuscript inscription inside upper board dated 17 April 1882 written by Alexander Don to the owner having researched on their behalf a probable date of publication. He states that he asked a friend who stated that he knew J. Moir, the printer of the work identified on the contents leaf; bookplate of the Library of the Faculty of Procurators, Glasgow recording its presentation by William Gemmill, member, dated 14 October 1946. Chubb (1927) 22 giving the date of 1800; Moir (1973) RSGS vol. 1 pp. 126-7 & 137, vol. 2 p. 153; Shirley (2004) T.Bro 1a; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).