Born Selina Price in Wales around 1780, she was listed as a creditor and beneficiary of London mapmaker and engraver Michael Thomson. In 1821, she married Thomson's business partner Sydney Hall. Hall took over the business from her husband upon his death in 1831. At that time and place it was illegal for married women to own businesses, however, unmarried women (including widows) could own businesses.  Maps engraved by Sidney Hall were signed "Engraved by Sid^y. Hall" while Selina marked her maps as "Engraved by S. Hall." The similarity in their signatures caused extensive misattribution of her works to her deceased husband.

Adam & Charles Black Ltd was founded in Edinburgh in 1807 by Adam Black (1784 – 1874).  It began mainly as an educational publisher of atlases and text books.  It printed early editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.  The company moved to London in 1889 and developed into one of the largest British publishing houses of the 20^th Century.