VAN DER AA, P. / OLEARIUS, A. - Astrakan, ville capitale du royaume du meme nom, en Moscovie. (Astrakhan)

Decorative view of Astrakhan. Astrakhan is where Europe ends and Central Asia begins. Its position on the Caspian Sea has ensured a long history as an important trading hub. It became where Russia met the East, home to traders from Europe, Persia, India, Central Asia, and beyond.

This well-executed engraving was published in 1729 and 1727 by Pieter van der AA, in Leiden in "Les Voyages tres-curieux et tres-renommez faits en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse."
Adam Olearius (24 September 1599 – February 22, 1671), born Adam Ölschläger, was a German scholar, mathematician, geographer and librarian. He became secretary to the ambassador sent by Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. Employed as secretary to an embassy sent by the small German state of Holstein to explore an overland trade route with Persia.
The first embassy was dispatched to Russia in 1633-34 to secure the tsar's permission to travel and ship through his realm. The second was sent in 1635 to complete the deal with the king (shah) of Persia.
Although the commercial mission failed miserably, the embassy was successful because of the incredible amount of information Olearius gathered.
After returning to Holstein in 1639, Olearius continued in the Duke's service and published the first edition of his travels in 1647. In 1656, he released a second, enlarged edition, which became very popular throughout Europe and was translated into Dutch, French, Italian, and English within a few years.
Read more about Olearius at the site of University of Washington