Charles Smith (fl.1799-1852) is perhaps best known for the ‘New English Atlas’ first published in 1804. A handsome work, Smith went on to specialise in British publications. In 1822 this quarto sized version of the atlas was published. The scarcity of the work indicates that it was not a great success. In 1826, he published ‘Smith’s New Pocket Companion to the Roads’, the work offered here in the second edition of 1827. For this issue, the original typographic title is replaced with an engraved one. It was based on the road strips of John Ogilby and here 3 strips appear to the page. They are similar to those of Laurie and Whittle in that the point of origin for each plate’s measurement is at the foot of each plate. They were all engraved by James Gardner (fl.1822-50) who had already engraved the quarto county maps for Smith in 1822 for the ‘New English Atlas’. The names of the towns in capital letters bear the distance in miles from London. Other stage coach stops are indicated in lower case similarly accompanied by mileages. Other places enroute are indicated in italic. There were three further editions of the ‘Pocket Companion’ appearing in 1827, 1830 and 1835. The scarcity of the work indicates that it was not a great success when measured against the main competition of the day, Laurie and Whittle’s ‘New Traveller’s Companion’. Provenance: manuscript ink annotation to title of ‘S S Kent’; Sotheby’s London 10 June 1982 lot 516 along with 3 other works for £121 acquired by Doreen Green. Bennett (1996) p. 120; Carroll (1996) Appendix 18; refer Chubb (1927) 402 (does not record any other edition than 1826); Fordham (1924) p. 60; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).