. Black's New Large Map of Scotland

BLACK, Adam (1784-1874) and Charles

Published by Edinburgh : A. & C. Black, [1862].

About this Item

Fine large folding engraved wall map (overall size 19 4/8 x 21 inches), one twelve sheets each in 15 sections laid down on cartographic linen with original hand colour in full (some minor toning); original green cloth slipcase with printed paper label on the front cover (a bit rubbed and lightly soiled). Provenance: each section with the ownership inscription of Dr. George Jeffrey of Glasgow on the verso. A fine large scale map of Scotland issued by one of Edinburgh's most renowned publishers: A. & C. Black. Adam Black began his career in bookselling in 1799 with an apprenticeship to John Fairbairn, an Edinburgh bookseller, "a period he described as 'a dreary, disgusting servitude, in which I wasted five of the best years of my life' (Nicolson, 18). At this time he also served in the Edinburgh Volunteers. In 1804 Black took employment as an assistant at Lackington, Allen & Co., the 'Temple of the Muses', in Finsbury, London, and stayed there for over two years. He was subjected to a thorough drilling, the hardships of which he would recount to his own employees in later life" (Gordon F. Millar). Eventually Black set up in business on his own account, and by the time he moved his shop into the "old General Post Office premises on the North Bridge in 1823 he had begun to be recognized as one of the principal booksellers in Edinburgh. He took his nephew, Charles Black, into partnership, thereby establishing the house of A. and C. Black. With the collapse of Archibald Constable & Co. in 1827 and Black's acquisition from them of the copyright to the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica', he moved his business into the first rank of publishers. In addition A. and C. Black became the Edinburgh distributing agents of the important whig-Liberal periodical the Edinburgh Review. In 1830 he began to issue the seventh edition of the Encyclopaedia, and by 1837 the firm of A. and C. Black was its sole proprietor. An eighth edition was completed in 1861 and a ninth was in preparation at the time of his death. Black also contributed articles to the Encyclopaedia. His firm consolidated its position still further in 1851 by purchasing the remainder of the copyright on Sir Walter Scott's works. These were then published in a variety of editions, the popular sixpenny edition of Scott's novels with particular success. At this time also Black moved to new, extensive premises on the other side of the North Bridge" (Gordon F. Millar for DNB).

Seller Inventory # 72map190

Bibliographic Details

• Title: . Black's New Large Map of Scotland
• Publisher: Edinburgh : A. & C. Black, [1862].
• Binding: Hardcover
• Seller catalogs:
  • Map