Our Notes & References
An appealing example, crisp in its first binding, of this celebrated study of Russia, Siberia and Mongolia, complete with the large map (ca. 65 x 95 cm), here without restoration and with fine original colour.
The author, the Swedish officer Philipp Johann Tabert von Strahlenberg (1676–1747), spent 10 years in captivity in Siberia between 1711 and 1722 following the defeat of Charles XII. During his stay in Russia he collected information and material on the languages and people of Ural and Altai stock, which became the basis for the present work.
The text is of great importance, offering much first-hand information – geographical, historical, and ethnographic – about Siberia and Great Tartary. The work also includes early descriptions of the linguistics of the region, with a Kalmyk vocabulary that includes translations of Mongolian words.
An important aspect of the work is Strahlenberg’s impressive, detailed and also decorative map, depicting the Russian realm and Great Tartary, which contains extensive information not only about Siberia, but also about the Caucasus (represented by a figure in the cartouche), Central Asia and the Far East. Preparing the map, Strahlenberg used his own latitudinal calculations as well as expedition accounts written by others.
This copy is of the second English edition (after the first edition in German in 1730 and the first English of 1736), with the map specially re-engraved by Richard William Seale.
Provenance
Broughton Baptist Library (part of which is now kept in the Angus Library and Archive, Regent’s Park College, Oxford; label to upper pastedown).
From the estate of Geoffrey Elliott (1939-2021), banker of Russian descent, author of books on 20th-c. history. Geoffrey and his wife Fay were noted collectors, especially of Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh and other literary figures. Russia (and, in this particular case, Siberia) was also an important theme: Geoffrey’s grandparents were interned in a Siberian tsarist prison camp before the October Revolution, and he focused most of his published works on the Cold War.
The Elliotts donated a significant part of their collection to the library of Leeds University in 2002, but kept the Russia-related items, which we consequently acquired.
Bibliography
Cox I, 194; Crowther 2034.
Physical Description
Quarto (22.7 x 17.5 cm). Title, advertisement leaf, [xii] incl. t.o.c., and 463 pp., with large folding engraved map by R.W. Seale with original hand-colouring in outline, folding woodcut map, folding table, and 10 engraved plates (3 folding including 1 map), woodcut tables and illustrations in text (some full-page).
Binding
Contemporary full calf, spine with raised bands gilt in compartments, red morocco label lettered in gilt, red speckled edges.
Condition
Binding lightly rubbed with minor scratches, spine foot with small chip; very occasional light marginal soiling or spotting, stronger on one instance, a few pencil annotations, a crisp, fresh example, with the map in fine condition and bright colours.
