Rare Old Map of Moscow, 1881: Arbatskaya Square, Bolshaya Nikitskaya, Moskva River, Large Parks, Landmarks

The "Планъ Города Москвы" (Plan of the City of Moscow) is a masterful representation of Moscow as it stood in 1881. This exquisite map, signed by the Major General in charge of the Moscow City Police, offers a fascinating glimpse into the city's rich history and urban layout. The map is adorned with the Coat of Arms of Moscow, featuring the iconic image of St. George slaying the dragon, a symbol of the city's resilience and storied past. This detailed, color-printed map divides Moscow into a grid of 127 sections, providing an intricate view of the city's streets, parks, and significant landmarks.

Moscow's vibrant neighborhoods come to life on this map, showcasing the bustling areas that have shaped the city's character. From the historic Arbatskaya Square to the culturally rich Bolshaya Nikitskaya, each neighborhood is meticulously illustrated, reflecting the city's diverse and dynamic nature. The map highlights the intricate network of streets and squares that have been the lifeblood of Moscow's urban landscape, offering a unique perspective on the city's development during the late 19th century.

Landmarks of great historical and architectural significance are prominently featured, providing a window into Moscow's illustrious past. Important buildings are named in Russian, allowing viewers to trace the locations of key sites that have played pivotal roles in the city's history. The detailed illustrations of these landmarks serve as a testament to Moscow's architectural heritage and its evolution over time, making this map an invaluable resource for historians and enthusiasts alike.

The map also showcases Moscow's natural beauty, with detailed illustrations of its expansive parks and the meandering Moskva River. The lush green spaces depicted on the map, such as the large parks in the northern and northeastern sections, highlight the city's commitment to preserving its natural environment amidst urban growth. The Moskva River, winding gracefully through the city, adds a picturesque element to the map, emphasizing the harmonious blend of nature and urbanity that characterizes Moscow.

This map is not only a functional tool for navigation but also a work of art that captures the essence of Moscow's historical and cultural landscape. The anonymous cartographer's meticulous attention to detail and the use of advanced color-printing techniques of the time result in a visually stunning representation of the city. The "Планъ Города Москвы" is a remarkable piece that offers a rich, immersive experience, allowing viewers to explore the intricate tapestry of Moscow's streets, landmarks, and natural features as they were in 1881.

Streets and roads on this map

• Арбатская площадь (Arbatskaya Square)
• Большая Дмитровка (Bolshaya Dmitrovka)
• Большая Лубянка (Bolshaya Lubyanka)
• Большая Никитская (Bolshaya Nikitskaya)
• Большая Ордынка (Bolshaya Ordynka)
• Большая Полянка (Bolshaya Polyanka)
• Большая Садовая (Bolshaya Sadovaya)
• Большая Серпуховская (Bolshaya Serpukhovskaya)
• Бульварное кольцо (Boulevard Ring)
• Варварка (Varvarka)
• Воздвиженка (Vozdvizhenka)
• Ильинка (Ilinka)
• Каретный ряд (Karetny Ryad)
• Кузнецкий мост (Kuznetsky Most)
• Лубянский проезд (Lubyansky Proezd)
• Малая Дмитровка (Malaya Dmitrovka)
• Малая Лубянка (Malaya Lubyanka)
• Малая Никитская (Malaya Nikitskaya)
• Малая Ордынка (Malaya Ordynka)
• Малая Полянка (Malaya Polyanka)
• Малая Садовая (Malaya Sadovaya)
• Малая Серпуховская (Malaya Serpukhovskaya)
• Маросейка (Maroseyka)
• Мясницкая улица (Myasnitskaya Street)
• Неглинная улица (Neglinnaya Street)
• Новая Басманная (Novaya Basmannaya)
• Новый Арбат (New Arbat)
• Петровка (Petrovka)
• Пречистенка (Prechistenka)
• Сретенка (Sretenka)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Coat of Arms:
• The Coat of Arms of the City of Moscow featuring St. George Slaying the Dragon is prominently displayed at the top.
• Illustrations:
• Detailed illustrations of roads and parks.
• Landmarks:
• Various important buildings are named in Russian.
• Large Parks:
• Multiple large parks are visible, particularly in the northern and northeastern sections of the map.
• Neighborhoods:
• Various neighborhoods are delineated, though not all are named in the visible sections.

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Планъ Города Москвы (Plan of the City of Moscow)
• Detailed color-printed antique map of Moscow, published in 1881.
• The map is a detailed, color-printed representation of Moscow as it existed in 1881.
• It provides a visual representation of the city's layout, including roads, parks, and important buildings.
• Language: The map is in Russian, and all labels are in Russian.
• Grid Division: The map divides Moscow into a grid with 127 sections, although not all sections are shown.
• Signature: The map is signed by the Major General in charge of the Moscow City Police, adding an official and authoritative touch.
• Illustrations: Roads and parks are illustrated in great detail, and important buildings are named in Russian.
• Date of Creation: 1881
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Anonymous
• The map was created by an anonymous cartographer, which adds an element of mystery and intrigue about its origins.
• Topics and Themes:
• The primary themes are urban planning and city layout, showcasing the infrastructure and important landmarks of Moscow.
• The map provides a historical snapshot of Moscow's development and urban structure in the late 19th century.
• Countries and Regions: The map focuses exclusively on the city of Moscow, Russia.
• Design and Style:
• The map is color-printed, which was a relatively advanced technique for the time.
• It combines both artistic and functional elements, with detailed illustrations and a clear grid system for navigation.
• Historical Significance:
• The map provides valuable insights into the urban development of Moscow in the late 19th century.
• It reflects the city's layout before major 20th-century changes, serving as a historical document for researchers and historians.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.