The discovery of previously unknown Dutch maps in map collection of the Russian geographical society

Abstract

Unique cartographic collection of the Russian geographical society contains a variety of documents of different epochs and types. However, since the 1970s, cartographic documents at RGS have not been studied from a scientific point of view, neither systematized. Therefore, the map collection was not operational and many interesting documents have been forgotten. In the process of funds placement a previously not attributed series of wall maps of Dutch cartographer Peter Schenk (1660-1718/9), little known in the Russian history of cartography, was revealed. The study examined the documents relating to the activities of P. Schenk from the collections of St. Petersburg, Germany and the Netherlands; a comparison of some maps with the exemplar of the RGS was made. Detailed descriptions of the entire series were composed. According to the results of the study, it is most likely that the map series identified at the RGS exists in a single exemplar, and the presence of all of the sheets makes it truly unique.