Rare Old Map of Saint Petersburg, Russia by Ilyin, 1887: Admiralty, St. Isaac's, Winter Palace, Neva River, Obvodny Canal
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FREE worldwide delivery
in 2 to 3 days
Delivery in 2 to 3 days
Your map should be delivered in 2 to 3 working days with free delivery.
We make maps by hand locally in 23 countries, including the EU
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. If you're buying a gift for someone in another country, we will make the map locally to them.You will never pay import tax or customs duty.
Express delivery is available at checkout which can reduce the delivery time to 1 to 2 days.
Please note that personalised maps, and larger framed maps, can take longer to produce and deliver.
If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, contact me and we can discuss your options.
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Certified sustainable +
we plant trees🌳
Sustainability & Tree Planting
Here at The Unique Maps Co., we have an unusually high affinity for paper. After all, without paper, there can be no maps!
That's why all of our paper, frames and packaging are from FSC certified sources.
But we don't stop there. We've partnered with Treeapp to plant trees around the world.
If you spend €50 or more, we'll plant a tree in your name.
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30 day money back guarantee
30 days to return and refund
Products can be returned within 30 days for a full refund, or exchange for another product.
For personalised and customised items, we may offer you a non-expiring gift card, as we cannot resell your personalised order.
If you have any questions, get in touch. For more information, see our full returns & exchanges policy.
- The model holds the 16x20in (40x50cm) map
Custom size and finish
If you are looking for a size or finish that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
"Plan of St. Petersburg," created by Alexey Ilyin in 1887, is a stunning and meticulously detailed map of the Russian Imperial Capital. This exceptional wall map, prepared by the Hydrographic Department of the Marine Ministry, offers a captivating glimpse into the city's grandeur during a period of significant growth and transformation. Based on General Schubert's 1828 survey map, this updated version showcases the city's expansion beyond the Obvodny Canal, reflecting the rapid development that followed the emancipation of the serfs in 1861.
St. Petersburg, with its intricate network of canals and rivers, is beautifully rendered in this map, highlighting the Neva River and its numerous branches that crisscross the city. The map's semi-pictorial style meticulously details the groundcover and individual buildings, offering a unique blend of artistic and cartographic precision. Notable landmarks such as the Admiralty building, St. Isaac's Cathedral, and the Winter Palace are prominently featured, providing a window into the architectural splendor of the era.
The map also captures the essence of St. Petersburg's vibrant neighborhoods, including Vasilyevsky Island, Liteyny District, and Nevsky District. These areas, depicted with remarkable clarity, reveal the city's diverse character and its evolution into a bustling metropolis. The inclusion of lower-income neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city underscores the social changes and urban sprawl that accompanied St. Petersburg's industrial growth.
Parks and green spaces, such as the Summer Garden, Field of Mars, and Tauride Garden, are meticulously mapped, showcasing the city's commitment to preserving natural beauty amidst urban development. These verdant oases provided residents with much-needed respite and leisure, reflecting the city's blend of nature and culture. The map's attention to these details offers a comprehensive view of St. Petersburg's urban planning and landscape architecture.
Alexey Ilyin's craftsmanship and the map's historical context make this piece a valuable addition to any collection. The map not only serves as a geographical guide but also as a historical document, capturing a pivotal moment in St. Petersburg's history. Its detailed depiction of landmarks, neighborhoods, and natural features provides a rich tapestry of the city's past, making it an intriguing and educational artifact for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Streets and roads on this map
- Bolshaya Morskaya Ulitsa
- Fontanka Embankment (Naberezhnaya Reki Fontanki)
- Gorokhovaya Ulitsa
- Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt
- Liteyny Prospekt
- Moika Embankment (Naberezhnaya Reki Moyki)
- Nevsky Prospekt
- Obvodny Canal Embankment (Naberezhnaya Obvodnogo Kanala)
- Sadovaya Ulitsa
- Suvorovsky Prospekt
Notable Features & Landmarks
- The Admiralty building
- St. Isaac's Cathedral
- Peter and Paul Fortress
- Winter Palace
- Smolny Cathedral
- Vasilyevsky Island
- Liteyny District
- Nevsky District
- Admiralty District
- Summer Garden (Letny Sad)
- Field of Mars (Marsovo Pole)
- Tauride Garden (Tavrichesky Sad)
- Obvodny Canal
- Neva River and its branches
Historical and design context
- Gorgeous Wall Map of the Russian Imperial Capital.
- Exceptionally detailed and beautiful Russian-language wall map of St. Petersburg.
- Prepared in the late 1880s by the Hydrographic Department of the Marine Ministry.
- Based on the work of retired Colonel M.S. Vortonikov.
- Shows the city in incredible detail, with many large and public buildings rendered individually and groundcover meticulously mapped in a pleasing semi-pictorial style.
- Shows the extension of the city south beyond the previous limits of the Obvodny Canal.
- Based on General Schubert's 1828 25-sheet survey map of St. Petersburg, which has been called "the largest publicly available map ever published of the city."
- The city grew considerably after the emancipation of the serfs in 1861, surpassing Moscow in population and industrial capacity.
- Large lower-income neighborhoods sprouted up almost spontaneously on the outskirts of the city.
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 every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 40in (100cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) 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 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.
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.
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.
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