The book for the first time opens the world of newspaper illustration of the beginning of the XX century. - a huge layer of graphic materials, still simply not noticed by anyone. The draftsmen of Peterburgskaya Gazeta and Peterburgskaya Listka depicted official events (visit of the head of a foreign state or reception at the embassy, ​ ​ ship descent, opening of a new school), fires, explosions, disasters, construction accidents, traffic accidents. Throughout the spectrum, a criminal chronicle was presented from the arrest of a gang of armed robbers to a fight at a wedding or an attempted murder of her husband with an iron. Events of cultural life, sports, public utilities, etc. were displayed.