The book, compiled by architect Viktor Revzin, presents a little-known side of Robert Rozhdestvensky’s life — in this book we get to know him as a passionate collector. During his lifetime, only his family and the closest friends, to whom he occasionally showed his treasures, knew about this hobby. The main theme of Rozhdestvensky’s collection was the history of Moscow, which he knew and loved very well.

The poet’s collection was formed over several decades. It included old books about Moscow, engravings with city views, lithographs (printed images that are transferred from a flat surface to paper), photographs, drawings and paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries, engraved maps, and decorative items.

Robert Rozhdestvensky became interested in the history of Moscow in his youth. He came to the capital in 1950, when he tried to enter the Gorky Literary Institute, but failed. Only the second attempt, he made the following year, was successful. His poem “There is Moscow on Earth” is dedicated to Moscow:

Two paintings with a view of the Theater Square, created during the festivities following the coronation of Emperor Alexander II in 1856, are considered to be the most interesting part of Rozhdestvensky’s collection. Rare 16th–17th century maps, which could adorn any museum exhibition, are kept in his collection as well. In addition, there is a map of the course of the Volga River published in Holland in the 17th century — it was intended for merchants who were sailing from Europe to Persia and India. His collection includes plans of old Moscow, which are also of great interest.

One of his 18th collectibles is a rare book by a Dutch artist, ethnographer, and writer Cornelis de Bruijn — “Travels into Moscovy, Persia, and the East Indies” with one of the first panoramas of Moscow during the Peter the Great era. An article, dedicated to the foundation of an Educational Home in Moscow, and lithographs from the time of the Napoleonic War are also of great interest. The latter were based on the drawings of the battle scenes made by the soldiers. In addition, views of old Moscow (drawings of churches and the 19th century buildings, which have not been preserved to this day) are well-represented in Rozhdestvensky’s collection.

In total, the catalog includes more than 420 items. It was prepared for publication by the Shchusev State Research Museum of Architecture. Viktor Revzin, an architect, restorer, architectural historian and director of the museum (from 1990 to 2000), compiled the catalog.