British North America

Article description

Steel Engraving, hand-colored in outline by SDUK (Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge), published 1834 by Baldwin & Cradock, London. Image size: 320 by 410mm (12 by 16 inches). From the celebrated SDUK series — widely regarded as among the finest steel-engraved maps of the 19th century. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (SDUK) was a Whig organization founded in London in 1826 with the admirable goal of making information accessible to the working and middle classes. Its map committee began publishing in 1829, producing a celebrated series of finely engraved steel maps initially under the Baldwin & Cradock imprint, later reissued by Chapman & Hall (from 1844) and Charles Knight. The SDUK maps are renowned for their exceptional precision, elegant typography, and fine steel engraving — widely considered among the finest examples of British cartography from the first half of the 19th century. Their North American sheets were produced at a transformative moment in the continent's history, making them invaluable historical documents as well as beautiful collector objects. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (SDUK), founded in 1826 by Lord Brougham, was a Whiggish London organisation with the high-minded objective of bringing learning to the uneducated working and middle classes. Much of its output was regarded as unreadable, it was not commercially successful, and it was wound up in 1848. Its most enduring legacy is the wonderful set of atlas maps and sought-after town plans published under its auspices, which we stock below. Originally issued in parts by Baldwin & Cradock 1829-32, it was later published as an atlas by Chapman & Hall in 1844 and by Charles Knight between 1844-1852. It continued to be published after the demise of the Society by G. Cox 1852-1853 and Edward Stanford 1857-1870. The maps commonly have original outline colour. Fourteen members of the S.D.U.K. served on the Boundary Commission for the 1832 Great Reform Act. (Wikipedia) In excellent condition. 320 by 410mm (12 by 16 inches).

SDUK (Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge) – British North America · Antique Map, Steel Engraving · 320 x 410mm · Baldwin & Cradock, London 1834

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