1842 S.D.U.K. Map of the City of Calcutta, India
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Description: This is a S.D.U.K. map or city plan of Calcutta, India. Calcutta was once the administrative capital of British India. The lower part of the map is decorated by several beautiful engraved illustrations of important Calcutta locations, including the Government House, Esplande Row, and the Writer’s Buildings. As much as possible individual streets are indicated as are souks and bazaars. Published by “Chapman and Hall of 186 Strand Street in November of 1842”.
Date: 1842
Source: Maps of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Vol1. 1844.
References: Rumsey 0890.168. Branch, M.C., An Atlas of Rare City Maps, p. 54-55.
Cartographer: The "Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge" was founded in 1828 at the instigation of idealistic British lord Henry Peter Brougham. The admirable goal of the Society was to distribute useful information via a series of publications to the English working and middle classes. It promoted self-education and the egalitarian sharing of all knowledge. While closely tied to the London University and publishing houses on the order of Baldwin & Cradock and Charles Knight, the society failed to achieve its many lofty goals in finally closed its doors in 1848. Nonetheless, it did manage to publish several extraordinary atlases of impressive detail and sophistication. Their most prominent atlas consisted of some 200 separately issued maps published by Baldwin and Cradock and sold by subscription from 1829 to 1837. Afterwards, the Society combined the maps into a single World Atlas published under the Chapman and Hall imprint. In its day, this atlas was unprecedented in its quality, scope, and inexpensiveness. Today Society, or S.D.U.K. as it is commonly known, maps are among the most impressive examples of mid 19th century English mass market cartographic publishing available. The S.D.U.K. is especially known for its beautiful and accurately detailed city plans. Click here for a list of rare maps from The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
Size: Printed area measures 16 x 12.5 inches (40.64 x 31.75 centimeters)
Condition: Very good condition. Narrow right and left margins – as issued. Blank on verso.
Code: Calcutta-sduk-1842 (Necessary for phone inquiries: 646-320-8650)
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