451 - Russia

Russia Hasius, Johann Matthias Imperii Russici et Tatariae universae tam majoris et Asiaticae quam minoris et Europaeae Tabula. 1739. Copperplate engraving with outline coloring and partial flat coloring. Plate dimensions 37 x 55 cm, sheet dimensions 54 x 60 cm. - With a large figurative title cartouche and a dedication cartouche featuring a portrait of Tsarina Anna Ivanovna. Published by the Homänn Heirs, Nuremberg 1739. - Engraved by R.A. Schneider. - The large-format map of Russia by Johann Matthias Hase was published in 1739 by the Homännische Erben in Nuremberg and ranks among the most significant depictions of the Tsarist Empire in the 18th century. Hase, a professor of mathematics in Wittenberg and a long-time collaborator with the Homann publishing house, drew upon the latest Russian surveying data from the St. Petersburg Academy. As a result, Siberia is depicted here far more accurately than on older Western European maps. The map extends from Scandinavia to Kamchatka and from the Arctic to Persia, China, Korea, and Japan. Due to the conic projection, the meridians radiate fan-shaped from the North Pole. In the far northeast, the depiction remains speculative, reflecting the state of knowledge shortly before the complete evaluation of Bering’s expeditions. - Center fold on the reverse side with old interleaves; paper browned due to age and uniformly foxed throughout, with more severe foxing along the margins and some isolated spots. Inscription on the reverse in another hand. Overall in good condition. Excellent, bold print with margins. Russia. - Copper engraving with outline and partial wash coloring. With a large figurative title cartouche and a dedication cartouche featuring a portrait of Empress Anna Ivanovna. - Published by Homännische Erben, Nuremberg 1739. - Engraved by R.A. Schneider. - Johann Matthias Hase’s large-format map of Russia was published by Homann Heirs in Nuremberg in 1739 and ranks among the most important depictions of the Tsarist Empire in the 18th century. Hase, a professor of mathematics in Wittenberg and a long-time collaborator of the Homann publishing house, drew on the latest Russian survey data from the circle of the St. Petersburg Academy. As a result, Siberia is depicted here far more accurately than on earlier Western European maps. The map extends from Scandinavia to Kamchatka and from the Arctic to Persia, China, Korea, and Japan. Due to the conic projection, the meridians radiate in a fan shape from the North Pole. In the far northeast, the depiction remains speculative, reflecting the state of knowledge shortly before the results of the Bering expeditions had been fully evaluated. - Centerfold with old reinforcements on the reverse, paper browned with age and foxed throughout, more heavily in the margins, with occasional scattered spots. Inscribed on the reverse in another hand. Overall good condition. Excellent, strong impression with margins.