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1834 S.D.U.K. City Plan or Map of Paris, France
Paris-sduk-1834-2$400.00
Title
Western division of Paris. / Eastern division of Paris.
1834 (dated) 15 x 23 in (38.1 x 58.42 cm) 1 : 16000
1834 (dated) 15 x 23 in (38.1 x 58.42 cm) 1 : 16000
Description
A 1834 two-sheet map or plan of the city of Paris, France, by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (S.D.U.K.).
In the years before this map's publication, Paris was rebuilding from the destruction of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras. This included the reconstruction of multiple churches and the completion (in 1836) of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysée (marked here as the Avenue de Neuilly, the name more commonly assigned to it on the far side of the Arc).
A Closer Look
Centered on the Seine River, the map covers the center of Paris in beautiful detail. Streets, parks, bridges, monuments, rivers, and important landmarks are noted throughout. Legends provide explanations of abbreviations for a variety of streets, alleys, and structures. The lower border depicts the many important monuments and buildings in profile, including Notre Dame, Palais du Louvre, Hotel de Ville, and the Theatre Odeon.In the years before this map's publication, Paris was rebuilding from the destruction of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras. This included the reconstruction of multiple churches and the completion (in 1836) of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysée (marked here as the Avenue de Neuilly, the name more commonly assigned to it on the far side of the Arc).
Publication History and Census
This two-sheet map was prepared by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, drawn by William Barnard Clarke, engraved by James Shury, and published by Baldwin and Cradock in 1834. This edition of the physical map is cataloged among the holdings of Florida State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, and the University of Kentucky, and is also among the holdings of the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection.CartographerS
The "Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge" (1826 - 1848) was a Whiggish organization 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 and Cradock, Chapman and Hall, and Charles Knight, the Society failed to achieve its many lofty goals in finally closed its doors in 1848. Most likely the failure of the Society resulted from its publications being too expensive for its intended lower to middle class markets and yet not large and fine enough to appeal to the aristocratic market. 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 initially published by Baldwin and Cradock and sold by subscription from 1829 to 1844. 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 cost effectiveness. 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. More by this mapmaker...
Baldwin and Cradock (fl. c. 1810 - 1860) were London based publishers working in the early to mid 19th century. They are best known for their publication of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge's ground breaking subscription atlas. They also published John Thomson's magnificent New General Atlas from 1814 - c. 1820. In addition to their cartographic corpus, the firm had wide ranging publishing interests in many other areas, including books, broadsides, and an investment in Blackwoods Magazine. They had their offices at 47 Paternoster Row, London, England. This firm also published under the imprint Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy and Cradock and Joy. Learn More...
William Barnard Clarke (1806 - 1865) was an English cartographer, architect, numismatist, literary translator, art collector, and archaeological writer. Born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Clarke attended St. Paul's School in London beginning in 1817 at the age of 10. It is said that as a youth Clarke spent a substantial amount of time in Rome studying architecture and also spent time studying the ruins of Pompeii. He was also instrumental in founding the Architectural Society of London and was named President of the Society in 1831. As a cartographer, Clarke was an active member of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and created a Celestial Atlas for the Society as well as city plans of Dublin, Milan, Warsaw, Paris, and London among several others. Clarke married Charlotte Brooks at St. Andrew Holborn in London on July 1, 1830. Learn More...
John Shury (fl. c. 1801 - 1848) was an English artist and engraver, particularly of landscapes, as well as a draughtsman, printer, stationer, and publisher. Little is known of his life and training. Around 1840, he is listed as being based at the enigmatic location of 'Charterhouse Street, Middlesex' (perhaps in London or Middlesex County). He may have been the father of father of engravers George Salisbury Shury (fl. c. 1838 - 61) and Jno. Shury, especially as late in his career his firm was listed as 'John Shury and Son.' Learn More...
Source
Maps of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, (London: Baldwin and Cradock), 1834.
The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (S.D.U.K.) Atlas was initially issued in parts over several years by Baldwin and Craddock to promote the society's mission of egalitarian self-education. The first S.D.U.K. began appearing in 1829 when the society contracted John Walker to produce the first proofs. The first S.D.U.K maps were produced serially by Baldwin and Craddock and issued in 2 map batches, priced at 2 shillings each. The series, originally anticipated to feature 50 maps, ultimately contained 200 and took over 14 years to produce. The initial production was completed in 1844 when the whole was issued in its first compiled atlas edition. Around 1842, following the 1837 bankruptcy of Baldwin and Craddock, publication of the atlas was taken over by the Society itself, who issued editions in 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842. Overburdened by the work of publishing, they then outsourced the publication to Chapman and Hall in 1842. Chapman and Hall produced editions in 1842, 1843, and 1844. Dissatisfied with the quality of Chapman and Hall printing, the Society turned to another publisher, Charles Knight, who issued editions under the auspices of the Society in 1844, 1845, and 1846. In 1846 Knight officially acquired the plates in his own right and reissued in revised editions until 1852, when he sold them to George Cox. Cox in turn sold them to Edward Stanford who published them from 1856 well into the 1860s. The S.D.U.K. Atlas is known for the quantity and quality of its maps. The S.D.U.K. published many maps of areas largely ignored by other publishers. The many city plans incorporated into the atlas are particularly admired and are the highlight of the S.D.U.K.'s long map publishing history. As a whole the S.D.U.K. Atlas was groundbreaking in terms of quality, scope, and being offer at a cost effective price point.
Condition
Very good. Light soiling.
References
Rumsey 0890.194, 0890.195. OCLC 52583254 (co-mingles digital and physical examples and multiple editions), 14102964, 423285881.