1680 TOOKER, Arthur
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Tooker was one of the main publishers of good-quality prints in London in the years immediately after the Restoration. The first sign of his activity is a trade card, etched by Gaywood as early as 1664. Arthur Tooker (1638-1687) was christened in 1638 at Hambledon in Hampshire, the son of a clergyman, John Tooker. He was apprenticed to Edward Cole of Cannon Street for seven years in June 1655. He was made free of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in 1663. [1]
Although Samuel Pepys himself does not mention Tooker in his Diary, Tooker dedicated his edition of Zeeman's set of etchings of shipping to him in 1675. In 1675 Tooker may have published another map, A New Map, Shewing the Naturall face of England. Very incomplete, with names lacking and localities marked only by a small circle (only known from one copy at BL). On 3 March 1680 he advertised in Mercurius Anglicus a travelling map of England, now giving an address 'over aginst Ivy-Bridge in the Strand'. In the same year he had moved to the Royal Hand and Globe at Charing Cross, describing himself as 'seller of paper, prints, mapps and paintings´. In the London Gazette of 23 June 1681, we learn that the new shop was at the corner of St Martin's Lane. In the London Gazette for 14 November 1681 he was selling tickets for a dinner in aid of the sons of the clergy at Merchant Taylors' Hall. It is not known who acquired his plates when he retired from business.
The road network is much simplified with four bold routes noted through Devon with three into Cornwall. Three routes both in and out of Exeter. The routes from east and north are via Chard, Honiton and Tiverton; west to Dartmouth and Ashburton both continuing to Plymouth and then to Penzance; and the direct route to Truro. A northern route via Barnstaple continues to Truro and to market Jew. Distances between towns and those to London are shown for Exeter 170, Plymouth 210, Senan 300 miles.
Travelling Mapp of England Containing the Principal Roads wch are laid
down with the Comensurated Distances
expressed by pricks
with a stroke at every
10 miles … Statute Miles of England.The title (Bd) is below the Royal Arms etc with (Bb) and (Ac) Sold by Arthur
Tooker over against Ivie Bridge in the Strand
And by Robert Green at the Rose and Crowne in Bridge row. Lat. & Long. (Longitudo hujus Tabulae incipit ab lnsula
St Michaelis vulog dictatum Azores una). This is
all contained in an attractive cartouche composed of various sea creatures and
deities. A note (Eb) reads A Statute Mile explained: Three barley Corns makes an inch Twelves one foot, Three feet one
Yard, Five yard and a half one Statute
Pole or Perch, Forty Perches makes a furlong, Eight Furlongs makes an English Mile.
The Key & Ref
with a note to places
near London (Ee).
There is a second cartouche top left with images of travellers such as a
peddler and two riders around a roadside plaque Digniss: Guilmo Bridgema Armig: hanc chartam ltierantibus in via Regia
apprime utilem. D:D:Ar: Tooker. Size: 535 mm x 440 mm.
1st state showed the lettering guide lines. (BL, RGS).
These were removed in
the 2nd state. (B).
The 3rd state was still sold by Tooker but added to the imprint And Wm Battersby (BL, BnF).
It was later sold by Philip Lea (cl690)
with his name in the title and the coat of arms updated: By Philip Lea at ye Atlas and Hercules in Cheapside London.
The second imprint below the second cartouche with Sold by Philip Lea Globe
maker at the Atlas and Hercules in Cheap Side near Fryfay Street London. (BL
Illustrated).
A number of his prints and his trade card can be found online at the British Museum site: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG61262
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