"Russiae, Moscoviae et Tartariae Descriptio…", Ortelius, Abraham

Fascinating map of Russia and the former Soviet republics from the surveys of the English merchant and adventurer, Anthony Jenkinson, in 1562. Jenkinson was leader of the Muscovy Company's first expedition to Russia and the first European to travel widely throughout the region. Ortelius' map replicates much of the detail and decoration found on the original Jenkinson map complete with extensive notations, illustrations of Cossacks, camels, encampments, armies, and a curious burial scene where the dead are hung from trees. A vignette of Ivan the Terrible appears at top left. Spanish text on verso.

References: Van den Broecke #162.

Condition: B

The lower right corner has a tear in the blank margin that has been replaced with old paper and there is a repaired separation on the bottom centerfold and a paper repair in the lower left blank margin that just passes the neatline but does not distract. There is light soiling and staining and some ink markings in blank margin and on verso.