Collins Bartholomew
A Scottish cartographic publishing and geographic-data business whose heritage extends from nineteenth-century mapmaking to modern world atlases and digital mapping.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Collins Bartholomew is a long-established British cartographic publishing and geographic-data business descended from the Bartholomew mapmaking family of Edinburgh. Its origins are generally traced to John Bartholomew Senior, who began working independently around 1826 after learning engraving in the Edinburgh trade. The business developed through several generations of the Bartholomew family and became one of Scotland’s most important map publishers, producing maps and atlases for educational, academic, commercial, reference, travel and general-interest users. The company’s early reputation was built on technically ambitious and visually distinctive cartography. Among its nineteenth-century work was Black’s General Atlas of 1846. During the later nineteenth century, John Bartholomew Junior and his son John George Bartholomew expanded the enterprise and associated it with the Edinburgh Geographical Institute. John George helped move the firm toward publishing its own cartographic works rather than serving primarily as a mapmaking contractor for other publishers. The company also became known for the use of hypsometric or layer colouring, in which changes in elevation are represented through graduated colours. This approach became influential in the presentation of physical geography. Bartholomew’s publishing programme included national and regional surveys, general reference atlases, physical geography, travel maps and mapping for institutional customers. The Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Atlas of Scotland, first published in 1895 and later known as the Survey Atlas of Scotland, was followed by the Survey Atlas of England and Wales in 1903. The Citizen’s Atlas of the World appeared in ten editions between 1898 and 1952. The company also issued specialist works such as the two-volume Physical Atlas, covering meteorology and zoogeography. A major turning point came in 1922, when the firm produced The Times Survey Atlas of the World for The Times newspaper. This became the foundation of the Times atlas line, later known as The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World. The atlas developed a reputation for its large scale, extensive geographic coverage and systematic updating. Its Millennium edition also marked the use of digital map-production technology in the series. The Times relationship remains one of the most visible legacies of the Bartholomew cartographic tradition. The business remained family-linked for five generations. Ian Bartholomew oversaw the 1922 Times Survey Atlas and later work on the Mid-Century Edition of the Times Atlas of the World. John Christopher Bartholomew was associated with major twentieth-century publications including The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, while his brothers Robert and Peter contributed production and management expertise. By the later twentieth century, the firm was moving from copperplate engraving and conventional print methods toward computer-generated mapping, geographic information systems and the licensing or sale of geographic data. In 1989, the Bartholomew business merged with Glasgow-based publisher Collins within the wider HarperCollins organization, then connected to Rupert Murdoch’s News International interests. The business subsequently moved from its historic Duncan Street premises in Edinburgh to HarperCollins offices in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. The Bartholomew name continued as a cartographic trade name and database identity, while atlas and map products were increasingly marketed under Collins, HarperCollins and Times-related imprints. Collins Geo in Bishopbriggs continued work involving world mapping, British Isles map products and geographic data. The former British Isles mapping operation associated with Geographia in Cheltenham was closed during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Today, Collins Bartholomew is best understood as a cartographic heritage and geographic-information business within HarperCollins rather than as an independent family-owne…
History
The history of Collins Bartholomew is rooted in the Bartholomew family’s engraving and mapmaking activities in Edinburgh. George Bartholomew worked as an engraver for Daniel Lizars Senior from the late eighteenth century. His son, John Bartholomew Senior, established an independent business around 1826, creating the firm that eventually became associated with the Bartholomew name. The early business participated in Scotland’s expanding nineteenth-century publishing and geographical-information economy. Its work included maps made for other publishers as well as increasingly ambitious original publications. Black’s General Atlas of 1846 is an example of the firm’s early output. Under John Bartholomew Junior and John George Bartholomew, the company gained prominence as the Edinburgh Geographical Institute. John George in particular developed the firm as a publisher of its own maps and atlases, strengthening its identity and commercial reach. The Bartholomew name became associated with innovations in thematic and physical cartography. John Bartholomew Junior was credited with pioneering the use of graduated elevation colouring, while John George was associated with the wider popular adoption of the name Antarctica for the southern continent and with the use of red or pink to represent the British Empire in maps. These practices helped make complex geographic information more legible to general readers. The firm’s first major publication as an independent atlas publisher was the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Atlas of Scotland, issued in 1895 and subsequently known as the Survey Atlas of Scotland. The Survey Atlas of England and Wales followed in 1903. Other important works included the Citizen’s Atlas of the World, published in ten editions between 1898 and 1952, and the Physical Atlas, with volumes on meteorology and zoogeography. In 1922, Bartholomew produced The Times Survey Atlas of the World for The Times newspaper. This relationship created the basis for a durable atlas franchise. The publication later developed into The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, with a reputation for extensive coverage, large physical format and detailed updating. The Millennium edition introduced digital map-production technology to the series, reflecting the broader transformation of the company from engraved and manually produced cartography to computer-assisted mapping and geographic information systems. The business remained connected to the Bartholomew family through a fifth generation. Ian Bartholomew supervised important Times atlas work, including the 1922 survey atlas and the Mid-Century Edition of the Times Atlas of the World. John Christopher Bartholomew oversaw major twentieth-century publications including The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World. His brothers Robert and Peter held production and management responsibilities, with Peter later becoming executive chairman. In 1989, the firm merged with Collins as part of the HarperCollins publishing structure associated with News International. The consolidation changed the company’s organizational setting while preserving the Bartholomew name in cartographic publishing and geographic databases. In 1995, operations moved from the historic Duncan Street premises in Edinburgh to HarperCollins offices in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. The Edinburgh property, which had incorporated the façade of the former Bartholomew family home Falcon Hall, was subsequently redeveloped. The Collins Bartholomew identity continued as a trade name for HarperCollins’s cartographic activities. The Bishopbriggs operation, also associated with Collins Geo, handled world mapping, British Isles products and geographic-data sales. A British Isles mapping arm formerly associated with Geographia in Cheltenham was closed in the late 2000s, with the remaining staff made redundant in 2010. The Bartholomew archives are held in the Maps Reading Room of the National Library of Scotland, preserving extensive evidence of the firm’s publishing history. The business’s modern legacy therefore combines a major Scottish cartographic tradition, the Times atlas line and continuing geographic-data capabilities within HarperCollins.
- 2010
Remaining Cheltenham staff are made redundant
[1]The closure of the Cheltenham operation was followed by redundancies among its remaining staff.
- 2009
Cheltenham mapping office closes
[1]The British Isles mapping arm formerly associated with Geographia was closed in Cheltenham.
- 1995
Operations move to Bishopbriggs
[1]The business left its long-standing Edinburgh offices and relocated to HarperCollins’s Glasgow-area premises in Bishopbriggs.
- 1989
Bartholomew merges with Collins
[1]The map publisher became part of the Collins publishing organization within HarperCollins.
- 1976
The firm marks its 150th anniversary
[1]A history titled Bartholomew - 150 Years documented the company’s heritage and achievements up to its sesquicentennial period.
- 1967
The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World is published
[1]John Christopher Bartholomew oversaw publication of one of the firm’s most detailed twentieth-century world atlases.
- 1955
Mid-Century Edition of the Times Atlas is developed
[1]Ian Bartholomew oversaw work on the Mid-Century Edition of the Times Atlas of the World, extending the company’s major reference-atlas programme.
- 1922
The Times Survey Atlas of the World is produced
[1]Bartholomew created a major world atlas for The Times, beginning a long-running atlas tradition that later became The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World.
- 1903
Survey Atlas of England and Wales is issued
[1]The company expanded its national survey publishing with an atlas devoted to England and Wales.
- 1895
Atlas of Scotland appears
[1]The Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Atlas of Scotland became the firm’s first major work as a publisher of its own atlas products and was later known as the Survey Atlas of Scotland.
Products and positioning
A heritage Scottish cartographic publisher and geographic-data provider combining detailed reference mapping, atlas publishing and digital geographic production within HarperCollins.
World atlas · 1922
The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World
The successor to The Times Survey Atlas of the World, this large-format reference atlas became one of the most prominent products associated with the Bartholomew tradition. It is characterized by extensive geographic coverage, detailed map presentation and a policy of regular updating. Its Millennium edition used digital map-production technology, illustrating the transition from traditional engraved cartography to computer-assisted geographic publishing.
National survey atlas · 1895
Survey Atlas of Scotland
First issued in 1895 as the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Atlas of Scotland, this work represented an important step in Bartholomew’s development as a publisher of original atlases. It provided systematic cartographic coverage of Scotland and was later known as the Survey Atlas of Scotland.
National survey atlas · 1903
Survey Atlas of England and Wales
Published in 1903, this atlas extended the company’s survey-oriented reference publishing beyond Scotland. It formed part of Bartholomew’s programme of detailed national and regional cartography for institutional and general-reference users.
World atlas · 1898
Citizen’s Atlas of the World
The Citizen’s Atlas of the World was a major general-reference atlas that ran through ten editions from 1898 to 1952. Its long publication history reflects Bartholomew’s ability to maintain a widely usable world-atlas product across changing geographic knowledge and publishing practices.
Thematic atlas · 1899
Physical Atlas
This ambitious thematic atlas comprised volumes addressing subjects including meteorology and zoogeography. It was based on the influential Berghaus Physikalischer Atlas and demonstrated the firm’s interest in presenting scientific and natural-history information through cartographic form.
Topographic map series
Half-Inch to One Mile map series
The 62-sheet Half-Inch to One Mile series was one of Bartholomew’s notable map programmes for Great Britain. It later evolved into the 1:100,000 National map series during the 1970s, although the series was eventually discontinued amid competition from the state-funded Ordnance Survey.
Geographic data
Collins Bartholomew geographic databases
The Bartholomew name continued as a trade identity for HarperCollins’s cartographic databases and geographic-data activities. These operations represent the firm’s transition from printed maps and atlases toward digital mapping, geographic information systems and data sales.
Brand decisions
1995
Relocation from Edinburgh to BishopbriggsStrategyBackground
Following integration into HarperCollins, the company reorganized its physical operations after approximately 170 years in Edinburgh.
Action taken
Operations moved from Duncan Street in Edinburgh to HarperCollins’s offices in Bishopbriggs near Glasgow.
Aftermath
Many long-serving employees left, while the Bishopbriggs site became the continuing base for world mapping, British Isles products and geographic-data activities.
1989
Merge with Collins and integration into HarperCollinsM&ABackground
The independent Bartholomew cartographic business was combined with Collins during a period of consolidation in international publishing.
Action taken
The firm entered the HarperCollins organization and continued its cartographic activities under a mixture of Bartholomew, Collins and Times-related identities.
Aftermath
The Bartholomew name survived as a cartographic trade name and database identity, while ownership and administration moved into a larger publishing group.
1970
Transition from traditional engraved mapping toward digital productionGeneration changeBackground
The company faced the technological shift from copperplate engraving and manual cartographic production to computer-generated mapping and geographic information systems.
Action taken
Bartholomew began pioneering computer-generated mapping and GIS-related production for its cartographic publishing and data activities.
Aftermath
The transition supported later digital atlas production and the continuation of the Bartholomew name in geographic databases.
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