Calcutta

1842

Steel engraving on paper

Print size: 12.5 x 15.75 in (31.6 x 40.1 cm)
Sheet size: 13.5 x 16.25 in (34.5 x 41 cm)

Calcutta — A Large-Scale SDUK Plan with Architectural Views of the Imperial Capital

Highly detailed urban plan of Calcutta along the Hooghly River, with Fort William, the Maidan, European quarters, native districts, roads, plots, and waterways meticulously engraved. The lower margin incorporates three engraved architectural views (including Government House and Writers’ Buildings), integrating topographical mapping with visual representation of imperial architecture.

This finely engraved plan of Calcutta, issued under the auspices of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, presents one of the most informative early Victorian representations of Britain’s principal city in India. Extending along the Hooghly River, the plan documents the spatial organisation of the colonial capital at a moment when administrative authority, mercantile infrastructure, and urban density were rapidly expanding.

Fort William and the Maidan dominate the riverfront, anchoring the military and ceremonial core of the city, while the surrounding European and Indian quarters are rendered with remarkable density and precision. Streets, building plots, ghats, and waterways are carefully delineated, reflecting the SDUK’s commitment to accuracy and public instruction. A detailed reference table identifies key public buildings, institutions, and places of worship, offering a systematic guide to the city’s civic landscape.

Unusually, the map is accompanied by engraved vignette views of prominent colonial structures, including Government House and Writers’ Buildings, linking cartographic survey with architectural representation. This combination underscores Calcutta’s status as both an administrative centre and a symbol of imperial authority.

SDUK plans of Indian cities were widely consulted and influential, yet large, well-preserved examples with integrated views are increasingly scarce. This sheet is of particular interest to collectors and institutions concerned with colonial urbanism, British India, and nineteenth-century educational cartography.

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