International conferences: 24th International Conference on the History of Cartography debuts in Russia

The 24th International Conference on the History of Cartography has debuted in Russia and brought together 200 scholars from 37 countries of the world. The International forum has been held since mid 1960s in different corners of the world. Many of the maps put on show at the conference are artworks.

In Russia the art of printed cartography is over three centuries old. For example, the atlas of fortresses of the Russian Empire was produced in the 1830s specially for the Emperor Alexander I. A plan of the city of Pavlovsk was made for the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. She took it in a case engraved with her name as she traveled. Folding the map was an art too.

"There is always something to discover, says the Chairman of the session of 24th International Conference on the History of Cartography (the UK) Francis Herbert. – At one of the meetings, for example, was unveiled a manuscript dated 13th century. World’s leading universities are always supporting their students, who are willing to take part in the conference. We pay expenses of specialists from poor countries to offer them a chance to share their achievements".

In Russia the history of cartography is being studied at institutes’ departments. In Europe the opportunities are much wider, tells the map historian from the Netherlands Paula van Gestel-van het Schip. In the Netherlands she studies Russian maps. In Moscow she is presenting her new book. It was long ago in the 90s that she started accumulating material for the book, as soon as she gained access to Russian archives.

"A great number of unstudied materials on cartography can be found right here, Paula says. – For many years your maps had been classified. Since the time of Peter I our Dutch scholars used to resort to cunning and hold long negotiations in order to get access to maps of the Russian Empire. And this veil of secrecy wasn’t lifted until the collapse of the Soviet Union".