Russian Art & Literature - Bloomsbury Auctions

Lot 88. [Vilbrekht, Alexander].
[Geographical Atlas of the Russian Empire]. Rossiskoi atlas iz soroka tyrekh kart
sostoyashchii I na sorok odna guberniu imperiyu razdelyayuschii. [St Petersburg]:
Geographical Department, 1800. Large oblong folio, 585 x 710mm. Engraved title
printed as a half sheet embellished with a soaring imperial eagle, text and titles in
Russian, engraved list of 42 maps , 43 engraved maps comprising a general map on
three sheets, 42 maps of the provinces each hand-colored in outline (numbered
2- 42A, 42B), each map with a decorative title cartouche incorporating imagery
relevant to the main occupations of the region. Early 20th century checkered-paper
wrappers, cloth spine. Condition: Some light dampstaining affecting lower margins
throughout just into the engraved area, margins of early leaves and outer margins
lightly spotted, maps 14, 16, 18, 19 20 all printed off angle, dampstain at upper
margin centre fold to maps 29-42B with loss of margin to some maps (maps 29-35)
and to map image on maps 36-42B; wrappers chipped and creased.
An Important Atlas of the Russian Empire. From 1745 a series of surveys were carried
out to produce accurate maps of the rich and expanding Russian Imperial Empire.
The first in 1745 was followed in 1792 when Catherine the Great commissioned a
new map of her Empire. On her death in 1796, with various administrative boundary
changes the 1792 Atlas was reissued as here in 1800. A very rare work with no copy
of this issue recorded in ABPC for the last 33 years, and only one copy of the 1792
edition (sold Bonhams New York, December 4 2006 lot 6072 $70,000)
$15,000 - $20,000
Lot 88
Books & Periodicals 49