107 Robert Scott / Archibald Fullarton 1833

James Bell (1769-1836) issued a New and Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales in 1833-4 in 4 vols (8vo, 44 maps). Bell was a geographical author who edited Rollin’s Ancient History (1828) and wrote a System of Geography (1830). The maps in his gazetteer all bear the imprint of the publisher and were engraved by Gray & Son, Josiah Neele & Co or Robert Scott (1771-1841), an engraver from Edinburgh who engraved the map of Devon. The map of Devon is a very close copy of Sidney Hall’s map of 1830 (101).

Unfortunately, James Bell had pirated many articles from Samuel Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary (see 103). Consequently, in 1839, Lewis obtained an injunction and Bell’s Gazetteer was withdrawn.¹ Fullarton, Bell’s publisher, acquired the plates and issued the maps in his own Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales. As Smith writes: Pilferage of ... any source, was a simple matter in an age when copyright protection was rarely enforced with any strength. Fullarton reprinted both the maps and the text of Bell’s New and Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales in his Parliamentary Gazetteer. He maintained that material still possessed of value had been digested into and incorporated into the present Work. He was more than angry at criticism on the grounds that these materials do not constitute one-third part of the present Publication. Fullarton felt this was not a large enough proportion to be accused of plagiarism.² Archibald Fullarton (fl.1834-70) founded the firm A Fullarton and Co, publishers and engravers of Glasgow 1833-40, of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow 1840-43, and of London, Edinburgh and Dublin, from 1845. Fullarton was also responsible for other works including Rev. J M Wilson’s Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland and Bartholomew’s Imperial Map.

Size 185 x 235 mm.                                                                                                                                      English Miles (14 = 34 mm).

DEVONSHIRE. with vignette of EAST VIEW OF EXETER CATHEDRAL &c. Imprint: Published by Archd. Fullarton & Co. Glasgow. (CeOS). Signature: Engd. by R. Scott (EeOS).