1659 Blaeu Map of the Volga River, Russia

This is an impressive 1659 map by Blaeu of the Volga River, Russia, based on the travels of the German diplomat Adam Olearius. The map reveals the Volga in the wake of the Russo-Persian War (1651 - 1653), when it served as an artery of conquest, diplomacy, and trade with Safavid Persia.

A Closer Look

The map is divided into two sections: the left charts the Volga from Wesloma and Nazhniy Novgorod south to Saratov, and the right continues from Saratov to Astrachan. A large inset details the mouth of Europe's longest river as it empties into the Caspian Sea. Towns, cities, tributaries, mountains, and riverside topography are detailed.

Three large cartouches adorn the map. The first and most interesting is a large vignette in the upper right illustrating caravan life - likely drawn from Olearius' descriptions. The cartouche on the top left features three reindeer, while the scale cartouche, lower right, is surmounted by mapmaking putti.

The Travels of Olearius

Adam Olearius, a 17th-century German scholar, diplomat, and traveler, is best known for his extensive journeys to Russia and Persia in the 1630s. Serving as secretary to the Duke of Holstein's embassy, Olearius initially traveled to Moscow in 1633 to negotiate trade routes between Holstein and Russia. His travels extended further when he accompanied a diplomatic mission to Persia, crossing through the Volga River, the Caspian Sea, and into Safavid Persia. Olearius meticulously documented his observations of the cultures, geography, and political structures he encountered, making his travel accounts some of the most detailed and valuable sources of the period. His writings, particularly in his book Voyages and Travels of the Ambassadors, provided Western Europe with a rare glimpse into the customs, architecture, and daily life in both Russia and Persia and some of the earliest cartographic reconnaissance from these regions.

Volga - Artery of Empire

Throughout Russian history, the Volga River played a crucial role in the economic and political landscape. Stretching across the heart of the Russian Empire, the Volga was a major artery for trade, linking northern Russia to the Caspian Sea and facilitating commerce with Persia and Central Asia. The river's basin was home to a diverse population, including Russian settlers, Tatars, and other ethnic groups, contributing to its cultural complexity. It also became a focal point for territorial expansion under the reign of Tsar Alexei I (1629 - 1676), with Russian forces securing control over the fertile lands along its banks. This period saw increasing tensions with the nomadic peoples of the southern steppes, especially the Cossacks, who often conducted raids along the Volga. The river was essential not only for trade but also as a strategic military frontier, shaping the development of the Russian state during this transformative century.

Publication History and Census

This map was issued by Joan Blaeu for the scarce 1659 Spanish-language Nuevo Atlas. It also appeared in 5 editions of the Atlas Major, with different verso text. As such, it is rare on the market.