The Whole Russian Empire
London: Robert Sayer, 1772.
Map. Engraving with hand-coloring. Sheet measures 21 1/2" x 51 1/2"
This oversize map of the Russian Empire features two joined maps, "The European Part of the Russian Empire with the Several Countries that are the Theatre of the Present War between the Turks and the Russians" and "The Asiatic Part of the Russian Empire with the adjacent Coast of North America", based on maps by Jean Baptiste Bourguignon D'Anville. The map extends from the Baltic Sea to the Sea of Anadir [Gulf of Anadyr], showing Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, the Arctic Circle, Siberia, Kamatchka, Yesso [Hokkaido], and present-day Alaska. Administrative borders of the Russian Empire are hand-colored, with red delineated regions in Europe, and yellow outlining those in Asia. Mountains and forests are depicted pictorially. Rivers, cities, and towns are labeled, with several notations throughout describing major landmarks, routes or observations of major explorations, and explanations of denominations. perhaps the most interesting feature is the mapping of the largely unexplored northeast portion of Asia. The mysterious Company's Land or "Land of the Company according to the Dutch" and "Land seen by Jean de Gama" as well as the Strait of Vries are identified. Company's Land and Gamma Land were considered to be the early mappings of the Kurin Islands discovered by Maerten de Vries and Cornelis Jansz Coen in 1643. They believed that these islands were part of America, which was separated from Asia by the Strait of Vries. In 1729, Bering finally debunked their myth, but the islands appeared in maps for another 50 years. Bering's Island is identified, where the great Arctic explorer ultimately died in 1741. The conjectural mapping of North America includes the note "Some pretend that this Land may be seen from Bering's Island. The "Present War between the Turks and the Russians" mentioned in the title refers to the Russo-Turkish wars fought between the 16th and 20th century, the longest series of conflicts in the history of Europe. Printed on two sheets, joined together (as issued). In very good condition, with several fold lines as issued. Minor offsetting and wear to edges.
Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d' Anville (1697-1782) was a French geographer and cartographer whose accurate, research-based work raised the standards for 18th-century map-making.
Robert Sayer (1725-1794) was an important English publisher of maps, portraits, and nautical engravings. Partnering with John Bennett around the 1760s, the two published the works of well-known cartographers such as Kitchen, Jefferys, Belling, d'Anville and others. This beautiful, large-scale map is an impressive example of his work.
Language: English
Price: $750.00
Item #334347