Napoleon portrait engraved by W.Hall after F.Gerard c1840.

by SDUK

Small antique print. Portrait of Napoleon by S.D.U.K.

Fine stipple engraved portrait of Napoleon. "Engraved by W. Hall. From a Picture by F. Gerard in the possession of the Publisher, Under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, London. Printed by Alfred Allard and published by Charles Knight of Pall Mall, Ludgate Street and Pall Mall East" for Portraits illustrative of The Pictorial History of England published in London in 1840.

Established in 1825 with the aim of making good well-illustrated publications at low prices, affordable to the working classes, The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge produced many such publications - however the majority of the working class were still not interested in books. They preferred light entertainment and more practical purchases. Henry Peter Brougham (later Lord Brougham) was the main instigator of S.D.U.K., and became Chairman of the Society, with a very large Committee of eminent people with a wide range of qualifications.

Page size: 25 x 16cm (9 7/8 x 6 3/8 inches)  Engraving measures 130 x 105mm (5 1/8 x 4 1/8 inches). Slight damge at top left corner and faint soiling at the extremities - to be expected after hundreds of years.