The Cowthorpe Oak Tree

29 x 22.5 cm (11.5 x 9 inches)

Cowthorpe was the home of an enormous tree, the Cowthorpe Oak and was once the largest oak in Britain. It is reported that its circumference was 60 feet (18 m). "Compared with this," says Dr. Hunter, in Evelyn's Silva, "all other trees are children of the Forest." Sadly the tree finally died in 1950.

This beautiful copper plate engraving is from John Evelyn's Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees. It was published in London for the Royal Society in 1776 as an encouragement to landowners to plant trees to provide timber for England's burgeoning navy. The work was a success from the start. Its publication gave a great stimulus to planting in Britain and no other work on arboriculture exerted a greater influence on forestry in England than Evelyn's Sylva.

This print is an authentic antique, not a reproduction and is in good condition. Please note there is some offsetting, visible in the scan. The print has two vertical fold lines. The engraving is printed on chain-linked cotton rich paper with strong plate marks and beautiful hand colouring.