The firm was founded by George Bartholomew who at the age of 13 was apprenticed to the map publishers W & D Lizars. His son John opened his own engraving premises in 1826 at 59 York Place, Edinburgh. In turn his son John (Jun) learned his trade under Augustus Petermann in the famous firm of Justus Perthes in Gotha. The firm prospered under four generations of the family.