A Brief History of Collins Geo
1965
Geographia, a cartographic company with offices in London, St Albans and Eltham, bought out the firm of Edward Burrows of
Cheltenham and established the new company in offices in St Georges Street, Cheltenham, later moving to Bath Road.
In that same year E W Yates of Cirencester was taken over by his main client William Collins and was relocated to Cartographic
Services (Cirencester) in South Cerney.
1972
Anthony Gatrell took over as managing director of Cartographic Services, bringing with him
the Mobil Road Map Series, first published in 1961, which became the basis for the Collins Road Atlas.
1973
The Collins Road Atlas launched.
1976
Bartholomew celebrates 100 years in business.
1980
After 154 years as a family business the company is sold to Reader's Digest.
1981
News International acquires The Times, Times Books becomes a separate company.
1985
News International buys Bartholomew from Reader's Digest.
1986
Geographia purchased by Bartholomew.
1987
Harper and Row purchased by News International.
1989
William Collins Sons and Co. bought by News International.
1989/90
The two companies merged to form HarperCollins Publishers.
1990
Geographia and Cartographic Services merged to form Bartholomew Cheltenham.
1991/92
Bartholomew / Times Books and Collins (Glasgow) merged to form single division of
HarperCollins.
1992
Collins Road Atlas first derived from GB database.
1995
Greater London Street Atlas produced from London database.
1995
Bartholomew / Times becomes HarperCollins Cartographic.
1998
Collins becomes brand name for all GB titles - dropping Bartholomew / Nicholson brands.
(With the exception of the Nicholson Waterways guides.)
2008
Collins introduce the new Fold Out style road atlas.
Sat Nav Buddy companion atlas added to the road atlas range.