Bartholomew’s Handy Touring Atlas of the British Isles c. 1923
€30.00
This atlas represents the “Golden Age” of British road touring, designed specifically for the burgeoning class of early 20th-century motorists.
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Cartography: Utilizes the famous Bartholomew “Layer” system (hypsometric tints), using color gradients to represent altitude and physical relief with exceptional clarity.
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Motoring Focus: Unlike earlier rail-centric atlases, this edition emphasizes main touring roads, highlighting distances between towns and identifying steep gradients for early automobile engines.
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Scope: Provides comprehensive coverage of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, including through-route maps for major cities.
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Format: A compact, pocket-sized volume bound in iconic red cloth, designed for easy reference in the cockpit of a vintage tourer.
Historical Significance
This 1923 edition is a fascinating snapshot of the British Isles in the immediate post-WWI era. It documents the landscape just before the massive expansion of the modern “A” and “B” road numbering system, capturing a time when long-distance driving was still considered a grand adventure.
