[LATE SOVIET MAP OF ABKHAZIA BY THE TBILISI CARTOGRAPHIC SECTION] Абхазская АССР / Abkhazskaya ASSR

STATE GEODESY OF THE USSR. (Edited by N. A. KHVEDELIDZE).

Komitet Geodeziii Kartohgrafii SSSR / Tbilisskoj Kartograficheskoj Fabrikoj, Tbilisi & Moscow, 1991.

A late Soviet map of Abkhazia published in 1991, one year before it became a free republic ,by the Tbilisi Cartography Factory. Scarce. One of 2150 copies. Slight stains on surface, slight chippings on extremities, and doodles by pen on verso, otherwise a good copy.

The Transcaucasian Geodetic Administration of the USSR was established in Tbilisi in 1929, with a small cartographic section. Between 1930 and 1931, it compiled a map of Transcaucasia at a scale of 1:500,000, which was printed in Leningrad. The printing of maps in Tbilisi began in 1932, following the receipt of some German-made equipment. The Factory itself was officially founded in 1933, and its first major project was the compilation of a topographic atlas of Transcaucasia in 44 sheets, printed in Moscow between 1934 and 1935.

The factory’s development accelerated in 1935 with the arrival of new equipment and the expansion of staff. However, in 1936-37, it faced significant sabotage. In 1938, the factory underwent a complete reorganization, with young experts taking leadership roles. Among them were engineer cartographers M. A. Pevlov, N. A. Suzdal’skiy, V. I. Arzamastsev, and S. N. Ter-Grigorian.

The printing of maps in Georgian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani languages became a notable achievement, highlighted in Soviet literature as a key accomplishment of the factory. The factory’s organizational structure included departments for Map Compilation, Lithography, Engraving, Printing, and Transfer.

The Tbilisi Cartographic Factory remained active even after Perestroika, continuing its work into 1991.

OCLC locates two copies in LoC in the US: 32549580.