Rare Old Map of Northern and Eastern Russia by Visscher, 1690: Arkhangelsk, Kazan, Vologda, Yaroslavl, Murmansk Tundra

Immerse yourself in the rich history and geography of Northern and Eastern Russia with this detailed map, crafted by Nicolaes Visscher II in 1690. Titled 'Russiae vulgo Moscovia dictae, partes septentrionalis et orientalis', which translates to 'Commonly called Russia, the northern and eastern parts', this map provides an in-depth look at the political and geographical divisions of the region during the late 17th century.

One of the key features of this map is the city of Arkhangelsk, a significant seaport in the White Sea that was Russia's chief centre of trade with Western Europe at the time. Another city highlighted is Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, known for its rich Tatar culture and beautiful Kremlin. The city of Vologda, an important link in the river route between Moscow and the White Sea, is also depicted.

The map also showcases Yaroslavl, one of the oldest Russian cities, located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers. It was a major commercial centre and is known for its remarkable historical architecture. Lastly, the map features the Murmansk Tundra State Nature Reserve, a testament to Russia's commitment to preserving its unique and diverse ecosystems.

The work of Nicolaes Visscher II, grandson of the esteemed Claes Janszoon Visscher, this map exemplifies the precision and artistry of the Dutch Golden Age of cartography. It offers a window into the past, allowing you to explore the geographical and political landscape of Northern and Eastern Russia as it was in 1690. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a lover of maps, or simply appreciate the beauty of old-world cartography, this map is a fascinating and valuable addition to any collection.

Some of the significant locations shown on this map:

Northern Russia:

1. Arkhangelsk: Known as Archangel in English, it was a significant seaport in the White Sea and Russia's chief centre of trade with Western Europe.
2. Murmansk: Although it was not officially founded until 1916, the region was inhabited and known for the Murmansk Tundra State Nature Reserve.
3. Novgorod: One of the oldest and most important historic cities in Russia, it served as a bridge between medieval Europe and the developing Russian state.
4. Pskov: An ancient city with a wealth of historic architecture, including a kremlin and numerous churches.
5. Tver: Founded in the 12th century, it was a medieval power centre and a competitor of Moscow.
6. Yaroslavl: One of the oldest Russian cities, located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers. It was a major commercial centre.
7. Vologda: An important link in the river route between Moscow and the White Sea.
8. Kostroma: Known for the Ipatievsky Monastery, where the Romanov dynasty was introduced to Russia.
9. Rostov: One of the oldest towns in the country and a tourist centre of the Golden Ring. It is located on the shores of Lake Nero.
10. Uglich: A historic town in Russia, a part of the Golden Ring of ancient cities.
11. Veliky Ustyug: A town in Vologda Oblast, Russia, known for its remarkable preservation of medieval cityscape, including several dozen individual city structures and urban estates.
12. Suzdal: A town and the administrative center of Suzdalsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, known for its well-preserved medieval buildings.
13. Petrozavodsk: The capital city of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, which lies on the western shore of Lake Onega.
14. Vyborg: A town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, which lies on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Vyborg Bay.
15. Solovetsky Islands: An archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia.

Eastern Russia:

1. Kazan: The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, known for its rich Tatar culture and beautiful Kremlin.
2. Nizhny Novgorod: Founded in 1221, it's an important economic, transportation and cultural center in Russia.
3. Samara: Known as Kuybyshev from 1935 to 1991, it's the sixth largest city in Russia.
4. Orenburg: Known as Chkalov from 1938 to 1957, it's located on the Ural River.
5. Ufa: The capital city of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia.
6. Perm: Known for its distinctive Permian geologic period that began 299 million years ago.
7. Yekaterinburg: Known as Sverdlovsk from 1924 to 1991, it's the fourth largest city in Russia.
8. Chelyabinsk: Known for the Chelyabinsk meteor that was a superbolide that entered Earth's atmosphere over Russia on 15 February 2013.
9. Tyumen: The first Russian settlement in Siberia.
10. Tobolsk: Known for its kremlin, the only stone fortress in Siberia.
11. Tomsk: One of the oldest towns in Siberia.
12. Krasnoyarsk: Known for the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric dam.
13. Irkutsk: Known for its proximity to Lake Baikal.
14. Yakutsk: Known as one of the coldest cities in the world.
15. Vladivostok: Known as the terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Notable Natural Phenomena:

1. Ural Mountains: A mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia.
2. Lake Baikal: The world's deepest and oldest freshwater lake.
3. Volga River: The longest river in Europe.
4. Siberian Traps: One of the largest known volcanic events of the last 500 million years of Earth's geological history.
5. Kamchatka Peninsula: Known for its high density of volcanoes and associated volcanic phenomena.

Notable Historical Events:

1. Time of Troubles (1598–1613): A period of Russian history comprising the reign of the Tsars Boris Godunov, and the Time of Troubles.
2. Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618): A sequence of military conflicts and eastward invasions carried out by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or the private armies and mercenaries led by the magnates.
3. Treaty of Stolbovo (1617): The treaty ended the Ingrian War between Sweden and Russia.

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 all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x30in (61x76cm), 32x40in (81.5x102cm), 40x50in (102x127cm), 48x60in (122x153cm) and 56x70in (142x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 90in (229cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40.5x51cm) 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 of Europe and European cities 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.