Bagrow, Leo, edited by Henry W. Castner, A History of the Cartography of Russia up to 1600 and A History of Russian Cartography up to 1800. Wolfe Island: The Walker Press, 1975, ISBN 0-9690514-1-7 and ISBN 0-9690514-2-5. 29x23cm., xv, 140pp. & xiv, 312pp., illustrated, cloth. (University of Alaska Press, Signers' Hall, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, $34.95).

The selling of this famous work by the University of Alaska Press provides a good excuse for a review.  It would be presumptuous for me to attempt any sort of critical review of a book by Leo Bagrow.  Let me just say that this is the classic work on Russian cartography.  Both the mapping of Russia and mapping by Russians are covered.  The text is authoritative and scholarly.  One hears little about Russian cartography, though occasionally maps printed in Russia appear on the market.  Presumably, there are early cartography experts in the U.S.S.R. Perhaps with glasnost we may expect an Atlantes Russici, listing all maps printed in Russia and its dependencies.  Even more optimistically, with perestroika and a gold Ruble, the U.S.S.R. may become part of the map trade.  Until then, one must rely on excellent books like this for out knowledge.

David C. Jolly, 1990