You can view ancient Greek and Roman inscriptions in the electronic catalog.

The scientific archive of the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences holds the largest collection of estampages in Russia. It contains over five thousand sheets of various origins. The term "estampage" comes from French and refers to an exact copy of an inscription or image made on solid materials such as stone or metal. Typically, estampages were created using a special type of paper—thin yet durable. The wet paper was pressed onto the inscription or image and tapped with a special brush to ensure it filled all the indentations on the surface of the monument, resulting in an accurate impression. Estampages can endure for centuries.

Louis Robert, one of the most prominent French epigraphers of the 20th century, rightly stated that estampages created over a century ago are just as accurate as modern copies. The majority of the estampage collection was assembled between 1859 and 1918, thanks to the efforts of the Imperial Archaeological Commission within the territory of the Russian Empire. Additionally, around two thousand sheets are associated with the research of Russian scholars abroad. This initiative began when Russia, following the example of Western countries, decided to establish its scientific institutions overseas.

The first attempt was made in 1879. At that time, the Russian diplomat in Greece, Pyotr Saburov, who was a collector and connoisseur of ancient art, proposed the creation of the Russian Archaeological Institute in Athens. Emperor Alexander II supported this idea, but the director of the St. Petersburg Historical-Philological Institute, Konstantin Kedrov, suggested taking time to prepare specialists first. To this end, he sent recent graduates of his institute and St. Petersburg University to Greece. Among them were future renowned scholars: Vasily Latyshev, Viktor Ernshteidt, Alexander Nikitsky, Nikolai Novosadsky, and others. Their primary task was to study ancient antiquities, especially lapidary inscriptions, the estampages of which were later brought back to St. Petersburg.

Thus, an impressive collection of copies of Greek inscriptions from Athens, Delphi, Epidaurus, and other ancient centers emerged in Russia. This collection was later supplemented with estampages taken on the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East by staff members of the Russian Archaeological Institute, established exactly 130 years ago in Constantinople. After the revolution, all these materials were transferred to the Russian Academy of History of Material Culture (RAIMK), the successor of which is the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IHMC RAS).

“A thorough study of this rich epigraphic collection, digitization, and the creation of a database of estampages will enhance access to these undoubtedly unique materials. As part of the RNF project, a corresponding website is planned to be created with sections presenting digital copies of estampages and descriptions organized by historical-geographical principles of the inscriptions from which they were made. Furthermore, the history of the collection's formation and biographical sketches of the researchers will also be available here,” said Vladimir Goroncharovsky, head of the Ancient Culture History Department at IHMC RAS.

Modern research practices have repeatedly demonstrated that turning to previously unexplored "old" materials often serves as an impetus for new discoveries and scientific ideas.

The important scientific initiative, which may shed additional light on the history of the ancient world, is planned for implementation by the beginning of 2027 as part of the project "Epigraphic Monuments of Greece and Asia Minor in the Estampage Collection of the Scientific Archive of IHMC RAS (attribution, comprehensive study, and creation of an electronic database)," supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation.

The initial results of the work on this project will be presented from June 2-6, 2025, at the all-Russian conference "Epigraphy and Estampages: From Field Research to Museum and Archive Collections," organized by IHMC RAS and the State Hermitage Museum.