1833 Turin
By: SDUK
Date: 1833 (Published) London
Dimensions: 12.5 x 14.5 inches (31.75 x 36.8 cm)
This elegant map of Turin was published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, also referred to as SDUK. The city is well known for the Christian relic known as the ‘Shroud of Turin’, housed in Turin’s Duomo, the St. John the Baptist Cathedral. The map is a highly detailed bird’s eye view of the city, showing its ancient fortifications as well as some of its more recent (as of 1833) architectural development.
The map features three beautiful insets just below the plan of the city. The first is a view of the basilica known as La Superga, near Turin. The second is a view of the city itself from the side of the Po River opposite to the city of that day. The third inset is a beautiful depiction of the Royal Palace of the city. Originally built by the French House of Savoy, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The SDUK was founded in 1828 by Henry Peter Brougham, an idealistic British nobleman. The aim of the society was to promote self-education and egalitarian sharing of knowledge by providing instruments of learning such as maps and various other publications. Despite being affiliated with London University and various major publishing houses, the Society ultimately failed to achieve its goal as the publications were too costly for the targeted middle to lower class echelons of British society. At the same time, its publications were not grand or fine enough to appeal to the aristocracy.
Condition: This map is in A condition with original hand coloring.
Inventory #12338
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622