Historic Map : Cruchley Map of European Russia, 1850, Vintage Wall Art

This is a lovely 1850 map of Russia by George Frederick Cruchley. It covers the European portions of Russia from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Ural Mountains and from the Arctic south as far as the Black Sea. The modern day nations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland are included.

Russia at this time was under the suzerainty of Tzar Alexander the II. Alexander is best known for his liberal reforms including the emancipation Reform of 1861 which liberated Russia's countless serfs and is considered to be the most important event in 19th century Russian history. This map is color coded according the counties and provinces, showing important cities, towns, rivers, lakes, mountains and other important topographical features. Elevation is rendered by hachures.

Cruchley's General Atlas was unique for its period, employing a vivid color scheme extending even to the oceans, distinctive typography, and various uncommon decorative elements including a peacock feather crown and an imprint medallion, both of which break the printed border.  Though many of the maps in this atlas are copyrighted in 1841, the atlas was first published in 1843 from the Cruchley office at 81 Fleet Street, London, and proving popular went through numerous reissues well into the 1850s.