A Brief History...
The Company was founded in its present form in 1982. The late Ronald Vere
Tooley, author of many reference books and pamphlets on the subject of
antique maps, including Maps and Mapmakers, The Mapping of America and The
Mapping of Australia, was a founder member. He started in the antique
book trade after demobilisation from the army in 1919. Specialising
originally in colour plate books and then atlases and maps. The second
partner, Douglas Adams, joined Tooley in 1964 at Francis Edwards Ltd, one of
the largest antique bookshops in the world at that time. They worked together
to establish one of the foremost antique map departments, supplying map
dealers, museums and libraries throughout the world. Every map collection
somewhere, has a map or atlas purchased from Tooley.
The third partner, Steve Luck, joined them in 1979 and together they have
established one of the largest antique map suppliers in the world today.
Dealing with maps and atlases of all areas and across every price range, from
£10 to £100,000. Many collections have been formed or amassed by them and
help or advice is given freely, to anybody wanting to start collecting or to
those forming a collection. Together their expertise and experience spans
nearly one hundred years.
We specialise only in original antique printed maps, from 1477 to 1860 of all
parts of the world. Price's range from £10 to £100,000, but generally a good
quality 16th or 17th century map can be purchased for a
few hundred pounds.
Our clients are Collectors, Libraries (National and Private), Institutions,
Colleges and Universities or people that just want something to decorate
their homes or offices, from all over the world.
We have original antique maps from £10 - £1000, suitable for gifts.