This is an atlas with an interesting history. Between the years 1856 and 1862, ‘The Weekly Dispatch’ newspaper included in each edition a map of a part of the world. During this period a total of 118 maps were issued. They bear the distinctive sign of a half globe with the figure of Mercury above. The engravers varied but included John Dower and Edward Weller. In 1863 ‘The Dispatch Atlas’ was published which contained a series of English county maps in a similar design. The two were combined in 1865 as ‘Cassell’s Complete Atlas’. Here we find the county atlas in its second issue with the maps all bearing a catalogue number in the upper corner. The work includes fine large scale town plans of Liverpool (double page), Manchester and Birmingham with margin strengthened. Provenance: Clive A. Burden Ltd. (2009) item 30; Dr. Adrian Almond collection; Dominic Winter 19 September 2012 lot 57; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 85-7; refer Carroll (1996) no. 120; Chubb (1927) 559.