Reuben Ramble's Travels in the Counties of England

This is a county atlas designed for children or ‘the little geographer’, with simple text by Samuel Clark (1810-1875) relating to the size, position, resources and history of each county

This example has a contemporary (1859) gift inscription to the eight-year-old Randall Proctor Burroughes Spinks (1851-1898) from his aunt.

The text is enriched and illustrated with forty maps by Robert Miller, which were first published in 1821 but are here newly surrounded by vignettes of local scenes intended ‘effectually to fix the counties on the recollection’, according to the preface.

The atlas was issued in parts, and sometimes sections (southern, western, eastern northern and midland counties) are found separately, but this is the complete work.

The authority on Darton publications, Jill Shefrin, has firmly attributed the new illustrations to James Richard Barfoot (1796-1863; attribution via Laurence Worms). Generally dated to about 1845, a copy has recently been reported with an ownership inscription dated 1843 (Worms), which is perhaps closer. It was advertised for sale in the June 1844 issue of The Publisher’s Circular, and in a list of new publications in the November 1844 issue of The Gentleman’s Magazine.

Condition & Materials
First edition, small 4to. (22cm) pp. [iv], [80]. Lithographic frontispiece, extra title, and forty decorative maps, all with attractive original hand colour.

Original red cloth, blocked in gilt and blind; rebacked, restored and refurbished, with expert repairs to spine and endleaves; internally a few minor, marks, spots and small flaws, with a slight nick to one map, but overall a very good copy of a notable rarity.

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Reuben Ramble's' county atlas for children