1839 SDUK: City Plan of Birmingham

Fine, original, steel-engraved map of Birmingham, with inset map of the environs, and with profiles of of the principal buildings below, by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (SDUK), published as part of the Society's Atlas in 1844, in London, by Chapman and Hall (title-page of the atlas is shown below.) The SDUK began its map publishing project under the leadership of Captain Francis Beaufort R.N. in 1829, and published the maps in parts, haltingly, over the next 15 years, completing the series in 1844, finally permitting the publication of a whole atlas. Many of the maps were actually drawn by Beaufort, who at the time was the Hydrographer to the Royal Navy, and all were closely supervised by him. J. & C. Walker worked closely with Beaufort in engraving the maps. The idea for the town plans, of which the SDUK published many dozens, was that of W. B. Clarke, an architect, who became an enthusiastic advocate for the plans, and who exceuted most of them himself, often on the basis of personal on-site observations. The plans are highly decorative, and often have accompanying vignettes, or as in this case, sketches of the main buildings. Finely engraved and delicately colored, the plans set a standard of excellence for commercial map-makers in England for decades to come. Dimensions 16 1/4" x 13 1/2" overall. Browning around edges, minor foxing, edge wear, otherwise excellent. High bidder pays 8.00 shipping and handling. ****************************************************************************************************