Shows the cover of the book The Tsarina's Lost Treasure

“A true delight for fans of art, mystery, and maritime archeology.”

In September 1771, the Dutch merchant ship Vrouw Maria was bound for St Petersburg, Russia, filled with paintings for the art collection of the Empress Catherine the Great, when a violent squall sent the ship and her cargo to the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Two and a half centuries later, the Vrouw Maria has been found and her cargo is intact. But standing in the way of a salvage is 41 meters of icy water and an international controversy over ownership and archeological practices. The Tsarina’s Lost Treasure recounts the full tale. Read more…


Gerald Easter and Mara Vorhees, authors of the Tsarina's Lost Treasure

About the Authors

Authors Gerald Easter and Mara Vorhees are a husband-wife team with a combined 40 years of experience traveling, researching and writing, mostly about Russia. Read more…

News & Reviews

The Tsarina’s Lost Treasure has been called “an entertaining yarn,” a “supremely researched book,” and “an intriguing narrative”. Read more…

The Sleeping Dog, a Gerrit Dou painting

Reader Resources

Download discussion questions for your book club, learn where to see a Gerrit Dou painting, and more reader resources. Read more…

Image of the Finnish Archipelago, setting for The Tsarina's Lost Treasure.

Photo Gallery

Our research took us to the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, and Russia. View some photos from our travels…