Tunis and part of Tripoli

Mapmaker:

The Society
for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge

The Society for the Diffusion of
Useful Knowledge, established in London in 1826, published inexpensive but
high-quality publications, including maps and atlases, with the purpose of
supplying an increasingly literate population with quality information. Founded
largely at the behest of the influential lawyer and Whig member of the House of
Commons Lord Henry Bingham, the Society’s actions were part of a wider movement
in early nineteenth-century Britain pushing to reform Britain’s social and
political culture. This included, among other things, increasing social welfare
and expanding the voting franchise to the working and non-landowning middle
classes and to women. The SDUK’s purpose was, ostensibly, to protect the more
‘vulnerable’ classes from disreputable and seditious publications which could
occur due to the cheaper methods of publication brought about by the industrial
revolution. The town plans that were produced by the SDUK often included
beautiful and intricate vignettes of the cityscape and, consistent with the
Society’s educational purpose, are very accurate and detailed.