Among earlier works devoted to, or dealing largely with topography, a few may be mentioned out of a considerable mass. W. Camden, _Britannia; sive florentissimorum regnorum Angliae, Scotiae, Hiberniae ... chorographica descriptio_ (1586 and subsequent editions; in Latin, but translated by several successive writers both in Camden's time and later); M. Drayton, _Poly-Olbion_ (a descriptive poem, first issued in a complete form in 1622); T. Fuller, _History of the Worthies of England_ (1662); J. Leland, _Itinerary_, and _Collectanea_, edited by T. Hearne respectively in 1710 and 1715; T. Cox and A. Hall, _Magna Britannia_ (1720, based on Camden's _Britannia_, in English); D. Defoe, _Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain ... divided into Circuits or Journeys_ (1724-1727); various works of Thomas Pennant, published between 1741 and 1820, and, at the same period, of Arthur Young (topographical treatises on agriculture, &c.); W. Gilpin, _Observations on Picturesque Beauty made in the Year 1776 in several Parts of Great Britain_ (1778); _Essays on Prints and Early Engravings; Western Parts of England_ (1798), and other works on various districts; _Gentleman's Magazine_ (1731-1868); E. W. Brayley, J. Britton and others, _Beauties of England and Wales, or, Original Delineation, Topographical, Historical and Descriptive, of each County_ (1801-1818; both the authors named wrote other descriptive works on special localities; Britton wrote _Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain_, 1835); Daniel Lysons (with the collaboration of his brother Samuel), _Magna Britannia_, _Topographical Account of the several Counties of Great Britain_ (1806-1822; the counties were taken alphabetically but on the death of Samuel Lysons in 1819 the work was stopped at Devonshire); Sir G. Head, _Home Tour in the Manufacturing Districts of England_ (1835); Nathaniel Hawthorne, _English Notebooks_ (1870). Among modern publications, out of a great mass of works of more or less popular character, there may be mentioned the well-known series of _Murray's Guides_, in which each volume treats of a county or group of counties.
Early in the 20th century the _Victoria History of the Counties of England_ (dedicated to Queen Victoria) began to appear; its volumes deal with each county from every aspect--natural history, prehistoric and historic antiquities, ethnography, history, economic conditions, topography and sport being dealt with by authorities in all branches.