The sketchbook was used by Turner on his journey to Scotland in October and November 1818 to gather material for the Provincial Antiquities of Scotland to be published in Edinburgh with text by Sir Walter Scott. It includes studies of Edinburgh, Roslin, Crichton, Borthwick, Tantallon and Dunbar. Most of the ten finished watercolours used as illustrations to the work are based on studies in this sketchbook (see No.206). In addition Turner designed two vignettes and other artists also contributed. Scott kept Turner's drawings, eight of which he hung together in an oak frame in his breakfast room at Abbotsford. They were later purchased by Thomas Brocklebank.
'Edinburgh from Calton Hill' was the basis of the watercolour engraved for Vol. I, p.83 by George Cooke, 1820 (Rawlinson No.193).