Exploring the Historic Poverty Maps of London: An Auction Recap
In an intriguing auction event held on June 18, 2025, influential social history materials from London’s past changed hands, including an impressive set of maps and volumes by renowned social researcher Charles Booth. The auction, conducted by Dominic Winter Auctions in the UK, saw these rare items sell for approximately GBP 4,880 (around US$6,576), showcasing both the enduring interest in historical social geography and the significance of Booth’s pioneering work.
A Centerpiece for Social History Enthusiasts
Among the notable lots was a comprehensive collection of Booth’s seminal work, Life and Labour of the People in London, spanning 17 volumes—including the first three series and the final volume—published between 1902 and 1903. This extensive publication provides a detailed exploration of poverty in London during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, offering invaluable insights into the city’s social fabric during that era.
The core of the auction lot was a set of 20 of Booth’s famous poverty maps, which served as a visual foundation for his groundbreaking survey. Initiated in 1887 with a pilot study of Tower Hamlets, Booth and his team conducted a fifteen-year effort to chart the economic and social conditions across London’s diverse neighborhoods. The result was a series of highly detailed maps that color-coded streets according to the economic status of their residents, providing a vivid and accessible portrait of London’s social landscape.
Understanding the Maps
Booth’s maps employed a distinctive color scheme to depict varying levels of wealth and poverty:
- Black: Lowest class
- Dark Blue/Purple: Very poor
- Lighter Blue: Moderate poverty
- Pink: Poverty with some comfort
- Red: Well-to-do
- Yellow: Wealthy
These geographic visualizations revealed that an estimated 35% of Londoners lived in poverty during this period, highlighting the widespread economic hardship of the time. The visual nature of the maps made complex social data accessible, allowing policymakers, social reformers, and the public to grasp the spatial distribution of poverty across the city.
Historical Significance
Charles Booth’s work was pioneering in its scope and methodology, laying essential groundwork for subsequent social research and urban planning. His detailed surveys and maps not only documented the social realities of Victorian London but also inspired reform efforts aimed at reducing inequality and improving living conditions.
Auction Insights
The sale price of these materials exceeded