Examination of the Map of Russia (1730).

The map of Russia of Phillip Johan van Strahlenberg is well-known to historians of cartography. Strahlenberg was born in Stralsund in 1676, and originally carried surname Tabbert. He has received the new surname (a nobiliary title) for military merits. As you were truly informed by workers of Swedish Archive, having been taken prisoner after Poltava, together with group of the Swedish officers he was in 1711 is banished to Tobolsk, a then administrative centre of Siberia.
The first, hand-written variant of a map of Siberia made in Tobolsk was gone during a fire: Strahlenberg has quickly packed it into a box and has thrown out in a window; the box with a map was stolen. Probably, In 1715 Strahlenberg has made the second hand-written map, but it was confiscated by the governor of Siberia prince Gagarin. After conclusion Nishtadt�s Peace, Strahlenberg has arrived to Moscow and has made the new, improved version of a map which it and has brought to emperor Peter3I.
After returning to Sweden, Strahlenberg has issued a map of Russia in engraving type. There are 2 variants of a map: issued in Amsterdam in 1726 and in Sweden in 1730. Variants differ painting some geographical objects, in particular, contours of Caspian sea. The map of Russia known to historians is executed not in the Swedish language, and in Latin, however, as well as those toponimy which manage to be read on the fragment sent by you (Russia Alba that is Russia White, Magna Russia that is Russia Great, Palus Meotis the latin name of sea of Azov etc.) 1730. A map on two sheets, the common size 100�65 sm. It repeatedly was republished during XVIII in., and the Department of cartography of the Historical museum also keeps engraving maps of Russia Strahlenberg of 1730.
As kept in Archive of the Swedish cadastre a map - hand-written (instead of decorated an engraving) it can be: 1) the author's original prepared before a seal (to that that fact contradicts, that a map decorated a water color), or 2) more later a hand-written copy with engraving maps.
More precisely to determine a place of the map described by you in cartographical heritage Strahlenberg, carefully it is necessary to examine a map, comparing it with engraving variant to check up presence records of the owner, paper water-mark. But I think, that in any case the copy from this map hardly can be submitted on constant exposition of the State Historical Museum.
It is necessary to begin studying of creation of a map with acquaintance with book L. Bagrow. A history of Russia cartography up to 1800. Walker press, 1975. pp.116-120. Also it is necessary to familiarize with book Strahlenberg devoted to a history and geography of Russia.


The Chief of the Department of cartography of the State Historical Museum

Vladimir Bulatov