Walter Scott's Atlas discovered in Unique Archive

Work to conserve Scotland's most complete geographical archive has uncovered pages from an ancient atlas believed to have belonged to Sir Walter Scott.

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society launched its Heritage Lottery-funded Images for All project today in Edinburgh and displayed the title page of an atlas bearing a signature which is thought to be that of Sir Walter Scott. This colourfully-embellished page comes from the first atlas ever to include a map of Scotland, published by Flemish mapmaker Abraham Ortelius in 1573. It represents one of the oldest items in the Society's archive.

The two-year Heritage Lottery-funded "Images for All" project has seen much of the Society's unique archive and collection of maps and photographs conserved, with listings and many digitised images made available through the Web. Comprising more than 250,000 individual items, the RSGS collection has a unique geographical focus and includes more than 1200 early maps of Scotland, along with 19th and early 20th century photographs, curiosities and records relating to Scotland and the activities of Scottish travellers and explorers.

Professor Bruce Proudfoot, who chairs the Images for All Project Management Group, said "this is an internationally-important collection and it is right and proper that it is both conserved for future generations but also made more accessible to the general public."

The Society has a vast array of photographs with a truly global perspective, portraying remarkable scenes from India in the early 20th Century, through life in Turkestan in 1910, herring fishing off Barra at its peak and St Kilda during the evacuation of its people in 1930, together with images of early Antarctic and Arctic exploration.

Colin McLean, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for Scotland, said "it is fantastic to see this treasure trove of artefacts brought to life for everyone to enjoy. Together they create an inspirational view of the globe and capture the nation's contribution to the study of Geography."

The Walter Scott atlas came to the Society as part of a substantial donation of antique maps which had been collected by the late William Cuthbert, a well-known Perth solicitor.

Professor Charles Withers of the University of Edinburgh, who hosted the launch, said "I was fascinated to see this atlas which has been attributed to Scott; his writing shows he had an extraordinary eye for the relationship between people and the landscape in which they lived."

The RSGS intends to construct a purpose-built archive to hold this valuable collection when it moves its headquarters to Perth in 2009, part of a £3.5 million initiative which will see the Society occupy the iconic Fair Maid's House, itself central to the Walter Scott story. This listed building will include a new Geographical Information Centre for Scotland with a unique research facility for the public. Fund-raising is ongoing to place the collection at the centre of an exhibition and education programme particularly targeted at young people.