Karta Srednei Azii, Sostavlennaya po Noveyshim Sviedeniyam i Gravirovana pri Voyenno-Topografisheskom Depo v 1/420000 dolyu. 1863 g. Ispravlena po 1879 god. [A Map of Central Asia, Compiled with the New Intelligence and Engraved at the Military Topographical Depot in the 1/420000 scale. 1863, updated up to 1879]. [Saint Petersburg]: Military Topographical Department of the General Staff, [1879].

Large folding lithographed wall map ca. 93x104 cm (36 ½ x 41 in) on the sheet ca. 98x116 cm (ca. 38 ½ x 45 ¾ in), dissected into 16 compartments and linen backed. Borders outlined in colour. The title and legend in the left lower corner; names of the contributors (topographers Mokeyev, Tenzin, Stepanov, Egorov, Ivanov, & others) on the lower margin. Period ink stamp of “Bookshop of Aug. Deibner, St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospect, 13” in the left lower corner; two upper corners with small metal pins for hanging. A couple of period markings on the linen on verso. Map slightly age toned, a couple of small stains on the margins, the linen of the outer compartments mildly soiled, but overall a very good map.

Historically significant, excellent detailed Russian map of Central Asia, compiled in the midst of the Great Game and showing the results of the growth of the Russian Empire towards Afghanistan and India, with the conquest of the Khanates of Khiva (1873) and Kokand (1850s-1876) and the Emirate of Bukhara (1868). The map was published by the most authoritative cartographical office of the Russian Empire, attached to the Military Topographical Department of the Russian Imperial General Staff. First issued in 1863, the map continued to be corrected and improved, according to the changes in the Russian territory.

The map shows the territories from southern Russia and Siberia in the north to the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and India - as south as Surat (Gujarat), Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Cuttack (Odisha). From west to east, the map covers the area from the Caucasus and western Ottoman Empire to Mongolia, the deserts of eastern China, Karakoram and western Himalayas, thus covering the territories of modern-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, Mongolia, India, Nepal, &c.

Thorough and detailed in terms of topography, the map shows the complicated relief with larger and smaller mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and deserts, provides names of geographical regions, provinces, and tribes, marks settlements from the major centers up to post and forts, railways (acting and in project), telegraph lines, canals, capes, sands, forts, graves, cemeteries, wells, springs, &c. Borders between administrative divisions within the Russian Empire and international boundaries are outlined in colour. The Khanate of Kokand is marked green (as an administrative division within Russia), the Emirate of Bukhara (purple) and the Khanate of Khiva (yellow) – as semi-independent territories (protectorates).

The “Note” on the lower margin reads: “This map is based partly on the surveys undertaken in the Caucasus region, Persia, European and Asiatic Russia, and partly on the materials borrowed from the latest English and other maps, as well as the maps of Russian Consul General in Kuldja Mr. Zakharov and Schlagintweit brothers. All this data has been laid on a map by astronomical points, ascertained by Russian astronomers in European and Asiatic Russia, Caucasus, Persia and Central Asia. Correction and replenishment of this map will be done as new and credible data is received.”

Overall an important detailed map showing the expert knowledge of Central Asia by Russian military cartographers during the Great Game.