"Imperii Russici, sive Moscoviae, Status Generalis, in Ejus Regna, Ducatus, Provincias, Populosq Subjacentes Divisus...", Wit, Frederick de

This striking map of Russia features good topographical detail and locates many towns and cities (including Moscow and Kiev), roads, rivers, lakes, and more. Portions of larger bodies of water appear, including the Gulf of Bothnia, Gulf of Finland, and Black and Caspian seas. Novaya Zemlya (Nova Zemla) is shown at top with an incomplete coastline. A key at top identifies the type of town or city. An ornate title cartouche with two putti, a cornucopia, a coat-of-arms, and a crown decorates the bottom right corner. In it, De Wit credits Nicolaes Witsen (1641-1717), the Dutch statesman, author, shipbuilding expert, and cartographer who traveled to Moscow in 1664-65, keeping a diary and collecting artifacts. He became fascinated about Russia and obtained all information available at the time on the subject, including maps, travelogues, manuscripts, and objects.

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Condition: B+

There is some printer's ink residue, a small, archivally repaired hole in the sea at top, and several extraneous creases adjacent to the centerfold that have been pressed flat and reinforced on verso. A couple of short tears in the blank margins have also been archivally repaired.