ENGLAND, LONDON: SDUK (Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge):
London
Imprint: London, 1836
Steel engraving, 40 x 64 cms, engraved by J. Henshell; vignettes of the Tower and London from Holloway, architectural elevations in the lower margin; original hand colour, a couple of small closed tears in the lower margin, slight toning, blank verso.
The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was founded in 1826 with the high-minded aim of making 'useful' information available to self-taught members of the working and lower middle classes. Some of the material was decidedly abstruse, subscribers fell away and the Society was wound up in 1848; however, the series of 209 maps published over a 14 year period from 1829 onwards were highly praised for their superior quality, accuracy and aesthetic appeal and remain an outstanding achievement., Howgego 354 (2).
