PIKE, John (fl.1788-1816) — London
Fan, umbrella & toymaker and publisher. Issued a fan-map, A map of the world 1788, an allegorical map of the land of Matrimony, showing the Island of Prudence, Divorce, Bay of Repentance, Sincerity Island, etc.
Pike was a fanmaker and toyman with a warehouse in Upper King Street, Bloomsbury, and manufacturing bases elsewhere. The signature on the fan has been read as “T”’, pointing to the Thomas Pike made free (Musicians) 3 Nov 1766 but “J” seems the most likely reading, confirmed by the address. Pike appeared in court 25 Oct 1797 in a case relating to the alleged theft of seventy-six fans (value £2.10s) and seventeen fan-sticks (value £1.10s) by the wife of one of his freelance employees.
56 Upper King Street, Bloomsbury (warehouse) — 1788-1816
— and 36 Cheapside — 1790
— and Friday Street, Cheapside (manufactory) — 1793-1794
— and 53 Newgate Street (manufactory) — 1797-1800
OB.