The ‘British Atlas’ was first published jointly by John and Charles Walker with Longman, Rees & Co. in 1837, the year Queen Victoria ascended the throne. It proved to be a popular atlas with several editions up to 1880. In 1850, lithographic transfers were made in partnership with William Colling Hobson to create ‘Hobson’s Fox Hunting Atlas’, another atlas which was successful. John and Charles Walker were well known engravers and publishers of the nineteenth century. Amongst other works they contributed to was the engraving of the maps for Christopher and John Greenwood’s ‘Atlas of the Counties of England’ 1834 and Lewis’ ‘Topographical Dictionary of England’ 1831. As has been commented by various carto-bibliographers the Walkers were very casual about the usage of the numerous states they produced and often it is hard to determine the age of an issue. This is particularly so with ‘Hobson’s Fox-Hunting Atlas’ which was never dated. From internal evidence the best estimate of issue is c.1860. Provenance: bookplate of ‘Ward’ pasted inside front cover; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 232-3; Carroll (1996) 105E; Hodson (1974) 103.