The Trans-Siberian Railway on early postcards
by Philip E. Robinson

Contents: Map cards Railway Construction The West-Siberian Railway The Mid-Siberian Railway The Lake Baikal Steamers The Circubaikal Railway The Trans-baikal Railway The Bodaibo Raylway The Amur Railway The Chinese Eastern Railway The Ussuri Railway List of Publishers

This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in the early years of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The construction of the line, around the turn of the century, coincided with the "Golden Age" of the picture postcard, and many different views of the Trans-Siberian Railway were published between about 1900 and 1918. Publishers in Russia and abroad produced cards to satisfy the demand from travellers on the railway (many of them going to and from the Far East) and also for sale to the many postcard collectors of that time.

The purpose of the book is to show a selection of fine cards, mostly from the author's collection, which were published in the early years of the line's operation. The views reproduced (stations, bridges, tunnels, locomotives etc.) give a fascinating insight into the operation of the world's longest railway in the early years of the 20th century.

The book comprises 50 pages of A4 size (11¾" x 8¼"). Most pages have two full-size illustrations of early postcards, with supporting text. Altogether 92 postcards are illustrated, of which 18 are reproduced in FULL COLOUR. There is also an introduction with some details of the railway, and a short Appendix listing publishers of railway-related views.

Railway Construction.

Irkutsk, view of Railway station.

The book is available direct from the author PRobin391@aol.com Philip Robinson, 2 Rydalhurst Avenue, Sheffield S6 4BG, England.

Price $20 or equivalent post free by airmail worldwide.

© 2001 the BSRP