Small Key within the map illustrating the Classification of Places with the corresponding number of inhabitants, and an interesting Cross Section at the bottom of the map showing the topography from London, north to Cape Wrath (marked A & B on the map)
John Crane Dower (1791-1847) was an English engraver, map publisher and printer active in northern London during the first half of the 19th Century. Dower worked from 6 Cumming Place Pentonville, London. He was most active as an engraver from 1820 t0 1847, where he produced work for John Greenwood, William Fowler, Henry Teesdale, Thomas Moule, George Bradshaw, Orr & Co. Dower his business on to his two sons John James Dower and Frederic James Dower.
William S. Orr & Co. were general commercial publishers specialising in natural history, periodicals and atlases from their premises at Paternoster Row, London where they also became map and print sellers. Orr published and distributed the British Cyclopedia in ten volumes in the 1830s which established them as a serious publishing contender at the time.
William Orr also took on the role of Publishers’ Agent from the 1830s, and was a close associate of Robert and William Chambers. By mid-1832 he was printing the London edition of Chambers famous Edinburgh Journal. The arrangement used stereotype plates, and brought the circulation up to 50,000. By 1845 the circulation was declining, and Orr wrote to Chambers explaining that the market was changing. In 1846 Chambers terminated the arrangement with Orr.
In 1841 Punch, the new satirical magazine was set up and Orr was brought in as a Publishers agent to help with distribution. Another important affiliation for the Company.
