History and culture: The exhibition of maps and atlases “Crimea: the pages of history” in Moscow

In the reading room of cartographic publications in the Pashkov House of the Russian State Library (Moscow) until April 22, 2016 is open the exhibition of maps and atlases of the Crimea from the XVIII century to the present day "Crimea: the pages of history". Among the exhibits there are unique manuscripts and engraved maps of the peninsula, as well as reference books and travel guides for tourists, thanks to which you can get acquainted not only with the geography of the region, but also to learn a lot of details of the economic life of the region.

As part of the cartographic collection of the RSL a significant place takes maps and atlases showing the territory of the Crimean peninsula. Since the XIX century, its territory has repeatedly mapped by military topographers. One of these documents - "Military Topographic map of the peninsula of Crimea, prepared in accordance with the latest astronomical observations, revised and augmented the best military shooting… Major General Mukhin" (St. Petersburg, 1816).  

However, until the XIX century, Crimea has frequently been the subject of study of domestic cartographers. The earliest map of the exhibition is composed in Latin - Versus Chersonesi Tauricae. Sen Crimeae concpectus adjacentium item regionum itineraries («A precise description of Chersonese Taurian or the Crimea to the adjacent areas and indicating the march of the Russian army in 1736 and 1737. Against the Tatars". St.-P. 1737). It is compiled on the autograph of Major-General, the Governor of the Irkutsk Karl Frauendorf and of great scientific interest, being one of the first Russian maps giving detailed cartographic representation of the Crimean peninsula. Map is dedicated to the Turkish War of 1735-1739, which Russia fought in alliance with Austria.

In addition to the set of antique maps and atlases, the exhibition also presents the cartographic publications of the Soviet period - administrative maps of 1920-30s, tourist maps and plans, as well as editions of 2014-2015, related to the return of the Crimea to Russia.