COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Makarov, Andrei
Date:
1842
Short Title:
Covers: Pochtovaia karta Rossiiskoi Imperii. Chast 1,2
Publisher:
Military Topographic Institute
Publisher Location:
St. Peterburg
Type:
Covers
Obj Height cm:
23
Obj Width cm:
16
Note:
Postal map of the Russian Empire on 2 sheets including map of Russia in Europe and a map of Asiatic Russia, 127x118 and 59x89 dissected and mounted on linen, folded into embossed calf slipcase 22.5x16, with title "Pochtovaia karta Rossiiskoi Imperii. Chast 1,2" in gilt on spine. Map designed by Andrei Makarov, showing the postal routes, published by the Military-Topographic Bureau, delivered from local Provincial authorities. Part 1 showing internal provinces and regions, the Grand Duchy of Finland and the Kingdom of Poland; Part 2 Showing the Siberian province, the Yakut region and the Maritime Administration. Includes title cartouche, inset and legend. Relif shown by hachures.
Full Title:
(Covers to) Pochtovaia karta Rossiiskoi Imperii, sostavlennaia Pochtovym Departamentom ... Chast 1, soderzhashchaia vsei vnutrennaia gubernii, Tsarstvo Polskoe i drugiia vnov prisoedinennyia oblasti. Pochtovaia karta : Chast 2, soderzhashchaia Sibirskaia gubernii i oblasti po posliednemu ikh razdieleniiu. Pri Voyenno-Topograficheskom Byuro, 1842. Sostavlial' A. Makarov.
List No:
13095.001
Series No:
1
Publication Author:
Makarov, Andrei
Pub Date:
1842
Pub Title:
Pochtovaia karta Rossiiskoi Imperii, sostavlennaia Pochtovym Departamentom ... Chast 1, soderzhashchaia vsei vnutrennaia gubernii, Tsarstvo Polskoe i drugiia vnov prisoedinennyia oblasti. Pochtovaia karta : Chast 2, soderzhashchaia Sibirskaia gubernii i oblasti po posliednemu ikh razdieleniiu. Pri Voyenno-Topograficheskom Byuro, 1842. Sostavlial' A. Makarov.
Pub Note:
Alexander Johnson and Dasa Pahor: "This is a splendid 2-part set of large-format postal maps of the Russian Empire; with a map of European Russia and separate map of Siberia. It was made by the cartographer Andrey Makarov for the Russian Postal Department and lithographed in St. Petersburg by the Military Topographical Institute. It is an updated, re-lithographed version of Makarov’s 1824 maps set which carries the distinction of being the first large format postal maps of Russia. The quality of the lithography, design and the fine watercolouring of this 1842 edition is very high, and this particular example has the maps bordered in green silk and housed within an elaborate full calf-gilt slipcase, making it a marquis example. Both the Russia in Europe and the Siberia postal maps showcase vast territories to a grand scale allowing a level of detail seldom possible on maps of such vast scope. The physical geography follows the most recent surveys from the Imperial Academy of Sciences, with coastlines, rivers and lakes carefully delineated; mountain ranges in European Russia are well defined, while such areas in Siberia are less precise. Each major jurisdiction (guberniyaor oblast) is outlined in its own brilliant hue of original colour, while county lines are carefully traced within. All cities, towns and villages of any consequence are marked, corresponding to their size as noted on the maps’ key. Most interestingly, every postal route of the empire is carefully delineated on both maps with the distances in versts, an archaic Russian form of measurement equivalent to 1.07 km, marked at frequent intervals. The postal route information is predicated on the best sources from local officials, as well as the postal couriers themselves. The map of European Russia, which is designated as ‘Part I’ embraces a vast area from the Arctic Ocean to the Black and Caspian Sea and from Central Europe over to the Ural Mountains. Notably, the Russian Empire then ruled a large portion of Poland (‘Congress Poland’), including Warsaw; as well as Finland and the Baltic Countries. Russia had also consociated it control over the Caucuses. Of note, the guberniya of St. Petersburg is fully shaded in purple, while the guberniya of Moscow is fully shaded in pink (as opposed to outline colour), so designating them as special postal zones with more comprehensive levels service owing to their large and dense populations. The map of Asiatic Russia, referred to as ‘Part II’ embraces all of Siberia, from the Urals to Kamchatka. It is important to remember that in 1842, Russia did not yet control Turkestan (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, etc., which would be conquered starting in the 1870s) or the future Primorsky Krai region in the Far East (the Vladivostok region, which would be taken from China in 1860). While less detailed (as the Siberia was sparsely populated) than the map of European Russia, in some ways it is the more interesting of the pair due to the awesome distances traversed by the postal routes, which represent noting but a triumph of human perseverance. The map takes in Siberia during a critical time at the beginning of the ‘Great Game’, the contest between Russia and Britain for mastery of the interior of Asia. The map shows that in addition to the well-established roughly 4,000-mile main postal line from the Urals to Okhotsk (the main Russian port on the Pacific), various spur portal routes had been recently opened to service the new settlements that had been founded to strengthen Russia’s hold over Siberia. The size and detail of the present Asiatic Russia map is remarkable, as Siberia normally only appears as an inset upon contemporary thematic maps of the empire. The map set, although made by the Military Topographical Bureau, evinces a ‘boutique’ quality of craftmanship from the time before the era of mass cartographic production in Russia (which commenced with the founding of the Ilyin firm in 1859). The quality of the lithography is very high, and the map was carefully constructed entirely by hand using top quality materials. The present example is evidently a deluxe edition, as the maps are lined in green silk and housed within a full calf slipcase, created in St. Petersburg, bearing elaborate gilt and blind-stamped tooling; attributes lacking on the other examples of the map of which we are aware. It would be safe to assume that this set was made for an especially esteemed client."
Pub List No:
13095.000
Pub Type:
Case Map
Pub Maps:
2
Pub Height cm:
23
Pub Width cm:
16
Image No:
13095001.jp2
Authors:
Makarov, Andrei
