This is the FIRST STATE of the A VERY RARE separately published large scale map of Yorkshire. Little is known of Tuke in the carto-bibliographies other than that he was a land surveyor in York with printed maps issued between 1787 and 1798. Further research identifies the Tuke family as Quaker innovators. Members were behind what became the Rowntree’s Cocoa Works, the Retreat Mental Hospital and three Quaker schools. John Tuke (30 June 1759-19 January 1841) was the fourth born or five children to William Tuke (1732-1822) and Elizabeth Hoyland (1729-60). William Tuke was a tea merchant and grocer in York and a pioneer in work on mental health. Our John Tuke was born in Lincroft, Bishopshill, York and married Sarah Mildred (1762-1829), daughter of Daniel Mildred and Lydia Daniel, on 16 Apr 1783. They had eight children and he died in Bishophill, York.

In 1787 he would publish two maps, one of the region of Holderness in Yorkshire, the other being this large four-sheet map of the whole county. Lower right below the beautiful engraved title cartouche of a north east view of York is the imprint of ‘Wm. Darton Engr. Birchin Lane, London’. It is unclear from this whether he is responsible for just the title cartouche or the whole map. Two insets appear on the map of which that upper right is entitled ‘Reduced Map of the County of York describing the Roman Roads & c. and also the intended Grand Canal betwixt the Rivers Ouse and Humber …’ The Explanation below describes the different typography used to illustrate the Market towns, Parishes and other villages etc. Churches, Country Seats and Parks are also singled out as are the differing types of roads and, rivers, boundaries and the divisions of the Wapontakes. Lower left is an inset plan of Kingston upon Hull surveyed by Anthony Bower (fl.1781-1813+) in 1786.

A very rare large scale map of which we have been unable to trace another first state example sold since this was acquired in 1993. Indeed Copac only records four examples in institutions: British Library; Brotherton Library, Leeds (2 examples); Allen Collection, Bodleian Library, Oxford. Rodger in her extensive survey identifies six others. Beautifully coloured at the time by Wapontake. Provenance: Sotheby’s 3 March 1993 lot 701; private English collection. Eden (1975); Rawnsley (1970) 30; Rodger (1972) 516; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).