1852 Wall Map EUROPEAN RUSSIA 1.6 x 1.6 Meters SCARCE! Tyutikovs Grand Postal Route Map, Detailed & Elegant! Start Price USD 1,199.99 Current Price USD 1,225.00 Time Left - Bid Count 2 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, July 19, 2008 End Time Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Location Indianapolis, IN See more about '1852 Wall Map EUROPEAN RUSSIA 1.6 x 1.6 Meters SCARCE!' Description Postal Map of the Russian Empire, European Part 160 x 160 cm lithograph, 36 sheets mounted on linen, original hand colour, St. Petersburg, 1852 We are pleased to offer this scarce and important original map of European Russia compiled under the direction of military cartographer Captain Tyutikov to show the postal routes and depots of the vast region.  Composed of 36 sheets mounted on linen, the enormous map measures a full 1.6 meters square when unfolded.  A masterpiece of Russian cartography, the scarcity of the map can hardly be overstated and this example is in superb condition - indeed the finest 19th century Russian wall map we have ever encountered.  Just last year an example of the map was found in Magnitogorsk in poor condition with significant loss and "rotted fragments" and was painstakingly restored and presented to the Chelyabinsk Museum of Postal Communication - the discovery of the map received significant press attention in Russia at the time with speculation that it was the only surviving example.  However, with this example found in Scandinavia we are able to offer a second, essentially pristine example of this true rarity that is perhaps the most finely presented Russian map of its era. We begin our survey of the map with the handsome title cartouche with its elegant variety of fonts and decorative calligraphy - note post horns at bottom: Detail of Double Eagle from cartouche: To get a sense of map detail consider that the distance from St. Petersburg to Novgorod as seen in the enlarged photo below measures just 6 cm actual size: The aesthetic grace of the map is notable - note tiny double eagles in border corners, decorative flourishes to border, elegant calligraphy: Inset map of Moscow and environs: Note Aral Sea at its full size before its virtual destruction in the 20th century at the hands of the Soviets - an environmental disaster that can be reversed: The Barents Sea and far north: Detailed legend: Sea of Azov, Crimea and environs: Inset map of St. Petersburg regional postal routes: Baltics: Note hachure work for pictorial topography: Stamp showing map once was held in government ministerial department: Postal routes from Nizhniy-Novgorod to Kazan - map notes inns as well as postal stations: Even remote villages are carefully delineated: Kiev and environs: Moscow as central hub of principal routes: Condition - Please note carefully:  The map is in overall superb condition, remarkably well preserved as can be ascertained from photos.  Inquiries welcome and we encourage you to visit our other auctions on eBay. Note: Final auction price includes insured shipment within continental United States. All other customers to pay actual shipping costs via traceable means including full insurance.  International bidders are wholly responsible for any applicable customs, duties or taxes upon receipt. Terms and Conditions - Please read carefully: Payment accepted via PayPal. This secure eBay-owned service allow buyers around the world to use existing credit cards to make purchases and will result in immediate shipment. Please note that we do not bill credit cards directly - payment must be processed through PayPal. If you are unable or unwilling to utilize this convenient means of electronic payment, please contact us prior to placing any bids to see if alternate payment arrangements can be made. Bank wire transfers are acceptable on auctions over $500.00 or in countries where PayPal is not available; on auctions over $2000.00 bank wire transfer is preferred. Personal cheques will not be accepted. Successful bidders are expected to adhere to eBay policies in establishing contact within three days of auction closing time and completing transactions in a timely manner. We reserve the right to declare this auction void if there is a disruption to eBay operations during the two hour period prior to auction close. In such event, all bidders will be notified and the item will be relisted.   Fraud Warning - Bidders are cautioned that the problem of fraudulent "second chance offer" emails sent to unsuccessful bidders on eBay auctions has reached epidemic proportions.  Please be advised that we NEVER participate in the "second chance offer" program on eBay and that any such email is illegitimate and intended to defraud.  Please forward any such emails received regarding any of our auctions with full headers to the Transaction Interception department of eBay's SafeHarbor office.  In addition, both successful and unsuccessful bidders are cautioned to be exceptionally vigilant regarding "spoofed" emails, fraudulent PayPal invoices and other common scams. In response to frequent inquiries, please be advised that the terms engraving, lithograph, woodcut etc. as used in our auction descriptions denote a PRINT, i.e. an image printed on a sheet of paper, and that all such items are unconditionally guaranteed to be original and authentic - we never offer reproductions. Please see our glossary for definitions of terminology used in our auction descriptions.   We conduct our business in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and are committed to complete customer satisfaction with every purchase.  We encourage you to evaluate our eBay customer feedback as a convenient means of gauging our performance and reputation. "Some to beautify their halls, parlours and chambers... liketh, loveth, getteth, and useth maps, charts, and geographical globes" - John Dee (1527-1608) "...Maps begin as dreams, pass through a finite life in the world, and resume as dreams again..," - Thomas Pynchon Maps and Atlases Globes and Planetaria Historic Town Views and Plans Engravings, Woodcuts and Lithographs Books and Ephemera Scientific Instruments Curiosities and Oddities   Place a Bid!