History of Atlases
Atlases were first produced as compilations of maps for usually economic or military purposes. The first historical evidence of Atlases being compiled were by the Chinese in the third century. These early Atlases have been lost, but the prefaces from them have survived. A second period of Chinese Atlas compiling began in the tenth century.
The renaissance in Europe and the dawning of the age of colonial exploration or trade by the European powers saw the first instances of Atlases being compiled in Europe. Both the Portuguese and the Spanish were making maritime charts of their newly conquered territories. The first Atlases in Europe appeared around this time and were either commissioned or given as gifts to royalty, the nobility or officers of state. The maps contained within were seen as secret documents. The Portuguese, at this time had the larges colonial empire in the World. The Portuguese Atlases either consisted of maritime charts of their newly discovered territories, or roteiros (route books or coasting pilots), showing lines of communications. From around 1575 the Spanish and Portuguese empires were united under the Spanish Crown.
Another centre in Europe for map making at this time was in Italy between the rival states of Rome and Venice. During a brief between 1555 to 1575, more map were published in Italy than in any other place in the world.
From about 1570 the book trade in Europe started emerging and Atlases were one of the types of books being published. Publisher from many countries in Europe started publishing maps and Atlases. For the first time Atlases appeared in Folio size. In 1601 two small Atlases were published in England called the Epitome and the Theatrum, they were the first Atlases published in English.
Atlas publishing in England was limited until the late eighteenth century. They were made for the upper social classes and sometimes only covering a particular county. The first major Atlases regally produced were made by John Cary as organised surveys, under the supervision of the authorities. John Cary's Atlases would show the estates and houses of the prominent gentry, in each of the county maps. The The authorites began the Ordinance Survey in 1791.
To be contunued...
Listing of Atlases
The Atlases appearing below, a mainly for Great Britain or the British empire. Unlike Guide Books, these Atlases had various publisher, so they are mainly grouped under Cartographers instead of publishers.
Bacon (George Washington Bacon)
G W Bacon and Co, The Strand London
- New Large Scale Ordnance Atlas of the British Isles, from 1883
- Bacon's Atlas of London and Suburbs, 1911or1912
- The New General Atlas of the World, from 1897
- Pocket Atlases of London, from 1897
- Pocket Atlases of Scotland, 1922
Bartholomew (J. G. Bartholomew)
Publisher: G. Philip, London
- Atlas of the British Empire, 1868
Publisher: Fullarton, London
- Imperial Map of England & Wales, 1868
- Globe Encyclopedia, 1878
Publisher: J. Walker, London
- Pocket atlas of Scotland, 1887
- Pocket atlas of Ireland, 1887
- Pocket atlas of England & Wales, 1887
- Pocket atlas and guide to London, 1903
- Handy reference atlas of London & suburbs, 1917
Publisher: G. W. Newnes, London
- Royal Atlas of England and Wales, 1898or1900
- The Citizen's Atlas
- The Royal Atlas and Gazetteer of Australiasia, 1890
- Newnes touring atlas of the British Isles, 1920
Publisher: Elliot Stock, London
- Handy Atlas of Church and Empire, 1908
Publisher: Bartholmew, London & Edinburgh
- Pocket atlas and guide to London, 1924
- Pocket guide to Edinburgh, 1892
- Survey atlas of England & Wales, 1903
- Survey Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1904
- Handy reference atlas of London & suburbs, 1909
- Handy touring atlas of the British Isles, 1919
- Pocket touring atlas of the British Isles
- Survey atlas of Scotland, 1912
- Pocket Atlas and guide to Birmingham, 1924
- Pocket atlas and guide to Glasgow and district, 1926
- Pocket atlas and guide to Manchester, 1927
- Pocket atlas and guide to Liverpool & Birkenhead, 1928
- London pocket atlas and guide, 1939
Publisher: Ward & Lock, London
- Handy touring atlas of the British Isles, 1909
- The Citizen's Atlas
- The Royal Atlas and Gazetteer of Australiasia, 1890
Publisher: G. W. Newnes, London
- Royal Atlas of England and Wales
- The Citizen's Atlas
Publisher: T Nelson and Son, Edinburgh
- The Royal Atlas and Gazetteer of Australiasia, 1890
Carey (John Carey)
Publisher: J. Cary, London
- Actual survey of Middlesex, 1786
- Actual survey 15 miles round London, 1786
- New and Correct English Atlas, from 1787
- Survey of high roads from London, 1790
- New map of England & Wales & part of Scotland, 1794
- New British Atlas, from 1809
Ordinance Survey
Publisher: Ordinance Survey, Southampton
- Road maps of England & Wales, 1915
- Road maps of Scotland, 1915
- Ordnance Survey atlas of Scotland, 1924
- Atlas of Great Britain, 1924
Philip (George Philip)
Publisher: G. Philip, London
- Philips' atlas of the counties of Scotland. 1858
- Philips' handy atlas of the counties of England, from 1873
- Philips' handy atlas of North & South Wales, 1876
- Philips' handy atlas of the counties of Ireland, from 1881
- Atlas of the counties of England, from 1883
- Philips' handy atlas of the counties of Scotland, from 1889
- Philips' handy atlas of the counties of Wales, 1890
- Popular atlas of the British Empire, 1899
- Philips' Handy county atlas of England & Wales, 1910
Sources
The information presented on this page could not have been written without referring to information found on the following websites or books.
Roger Baskes Collection: On this site is a great listing of the many Atlases published. Roger Baskes's site was the inspiration for Old Guide Books and provides many listings for this page.
Images of the World, The Atlas Through History - Edited by John A. Wolter and Ronald E. Grims, Published by McGraw-Hill