The beginning of the nineteenth century saw a period of rapid market growth and innovation in the map publishing world. Increased literacy and public interest in new frontiers and colonies overwhelmed the market because it was oriented toward the small, affluent market of the previous century. With the intent to fill this void, The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (SDUK) was founded in 1828 in London, by Lord Brougham and a group of men dedicated to the education of the aspiring working class and the Utilitarian ideal of 'Knowledge is Power.' The society produced an array of education materials, but the series of maps was one of their most successful ventures. A number of engravers and printers were used to produce the maps, which eventually exceed 200 sheets, and continued to be published after the Society as a whole ceased to function.

A matching pair of maps published by Baldwin and Cradock and engraved by J. & C. Walker.

A. The Antilles or West-India Islands (15.5 x 12.3"). Very detailed map of the entire Caribbean and Bahamas showing the islands and colored to reflect the colonial possessions. Statistics providing area and population are printed under the title.

B. The British Islands in the West Indies, dated 1835 (15.7 x 12.5"). This map features Jamaica at its center, surrounded by 14 insets of other islands. Includes charts of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Grenadines, Granada, Trinidad, New Providence, Anguila, Dominica, St. Vincent, St. Lucie, Barbados, Tobago, Roatan, and Grand Cayman.

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Condition: B+

Contemporary outline color with minor soiling and light toning that is mostly confined to the edges of the sheet. The "British Islands" sheet has a chip at bottom left.