This atlas, published in 1809 by Laurie and Whittle, offers a detailed and comprehensive view of the world as known in the early 19th century. Designed for educational use and for inclusion in gentlemen's libraries, this sixth edition of the atlas is notable for its thirty-nine maps, printed on high-quality "vellum paper", and illustrates the geographical knowledge and discoveries of the time.
The atlas includes maps such as "The World on Mercator's Projection," "Europe," "The Empire of China," and "The United States of North America," reflecting the evolving political and geographical landscape. Produced by the well-known London map, chart, and print-sellers Laurie and Whittle, the atlas was both an educational tool and a representation of the era's geographical knowledge.
The atlas is noteworthy for the publisher's characteristic hand-coloring in shades of pink, yellow, green, orange, and red.
James Whittle (1757-1818) was a British engraver and map printer. Whittle was employed by Robert Sayer (ca. 1725-1794). Together with Robert Laurie (1755?-1836), he took on Sayer’s business when the older man died in 1794. The two traded together as Laurie & Whittle until 1812, when Laurie retired. They had specialized in sea charts and maritime atlases. Whittle then partnered with Laurie’s son, Richard Holmes Laurie, until he died in 1818.
Robert Laurie (1755?-1836) was a British engraver and printseller who specialized in engraving portraits and in publishing maritime charts. His family originated in Dumfriesshire. As a young man he came to London and was apprenticed to Robert Sayer (ca. 1724-1794) in 1770. He received several awards in the 1770s for his mezzotint engraving and printing. He worked for Sayer as apprentice, assistant, and later partner.
In 1794, when Sayer died, Laurie took on his business alongside James Whittle, his fellow Sayer employee. Laurie managed the business and ceased almost all engraving. Instead, he oversaw the prodigious output of printed materials, especially sea charts and maritime atlases. He retired in 1812.
Laurie’s son, Richard Holmes Laurie, took over his part of the business and continued in business as Whittle & Laurie, rather than the previous Laurie & Whittle. Whittle died in 1818, leaving Richard as the sold proprietor of the business. Robert died in 1836 in Hertfordshire.