Das Veränderte Russland [The Present State of Russia].

An important contemporary description of the developments of Russia under Peter the Great, with an early plan of the new city of St Petersburg.

Weber, a diplomat from Hanover, was present in Russia from 1714 to 1719, and published the first volume of 'Das veränderte Russland' in 1721. He brings an insider's valuable comments on changes instigated in the reign of Peter I, covering many fields (as mentioned on the title page): cultural and artistic, economic, strategic, territorial... The first part includes also Muller's decription of the Siberian Ostiacks.

The map bound at the beginning of volume I shows the entire Russian empire, including its 'parties inconnues', with an interesting project of a canal linking the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea. Other maps show details of the Astrachan delta, Azov and Arkhangelsk; the picturesque plates represent tsars and Russian arms next to an Uzbek costume, landscapes, lively scenes and views of cities.

The folding plan of St. Petersburg accompanying the city's description is an interesting mix of accurate representation (e.g. the Admiralty site) and planned developments which actually were not achieved (a large geometrical extension on Vasilievskiy Island).

3 parts bound in 1, second edition of part I and first editions of parts II and III; small 4to (21 x 16 cm); title printed in red and black, 19 plates and maps including frontispiece portraits of Paul I and Tsarevich Alexey and folding maps of St Petersburg and Russia, some minor soiling to margins but generally very fresh; contemporary vellum, manuscript title to spine, a very good copy.