Steel engraved, original outline colour. 350 x 430mm. (13.75 x 17ins). Centre-fold slightly visible.

Six colour key to: British and French Governments’ possessions; ‘Native’ and Portugese dominions; boundaries between the presidencies of Bengal, Bombay and Madras.

The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was founded in 1828 at the instigation of an idealistic peer, Lord Brougham. The 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. Whilst conceived with high ideals the project gradually failed, as subscribers fell away and sale of publications declined. The Society finally ceased activities in 1848.