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Description

Fine wide margined example of Covens & Mortier's rare regional map of the Southeast, based upon D'Anville's map of North America published in 1755.

Late in the publishing history, Covens & Mortier began issuing re-engraved versions of some of the most important multi-sheet maps of North America, including the 1755 John Mitchell Map of the British Empire in North America, and a 4-sheet edition of Henry Popple's 20-sheet map. Among the most interesting maps reproduced by Covens & Mortier was the D'Anville map of North America, which provided the French perspective on the region which would be hotly disputed during the French & Indian War.

D'Anville's map is significantly different than Mitchell's map of 1755. Most notably, the course of the Ohio River is substantially different than Mitchell's map, as are the R. Cherakis and R. Ouabache, two of its primary tributaries. The course of the Missouri River and the Appalachicola River is also noticeably different. Cummings notes that the map shows the Indian Settlements between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River, unlike the Mitchell. It also shows the Grenville Line in North Carolina, but not the division between North and South Carolina. The treatment of the east coast from St. Augustine to Delaware Bay is very detailed, as is the treatment of Chesapeake, Maryland and Virginia.

This map appears infrequently on the market. One of the rarest regional atlas maps of the period.

Condition Description
Wide margins. Thick heavy paper.
Reference
Sellers and Van Ee #1386/ Cumming 316 (curiously referencing Sepp as the maker--Sepp is listed as the engraver in the lower left corner).
Johannes Covens Biography

Johannes Covens (1697-1774) was a Dutch geographic publisher based in Amsterdam. He is best known for his collaboration with fellow publisher Cornelis Mortier (1699-1783). Pierre Mortier the Elder (1661-1711) had obtained a privilege in 1690 to distribute the works of French geographers in the Netherlands. After his widow continued the business for several years, Cornelis took over in 1719.

In 1721, Mortier forged a partnership with Covens, who had recently married Cornelis’ sister. They published under the joint name of Covens & Mortier. In 1774, upon the death of his father, Johannes Covens II (1722-1794) took over his father’s share. In 1778, the company changed its name to J. Covens & Zoon, or J. Covens & son.

Covens II’s son, Cornelis (1764-1825), later inherited the business and brought Petrus Mortier IV back into the fold. Petrus was the great-grandson of Petrus Mortier I. From 1794, the business was called Mortier, Covens & Zoon, or Mortier, Covens, & Son.

The business specialized in publishing French geographers including Deslisle, Jaillot, and Sanson. They also published atlases, for example a 1725 reissue of Frederik de Wit’s Atlas Major and an atlas, with additions, from the works of Guillaume Delisle. There were also Covens & Mortier pocket atlases and town atlases. The company profited from acquiring plates from other geographers as well. For example, the purchased Pieter van der Aa’s plates in 1730. Finally, they also compiled a few maps in house. At their height, they had the largest collection of geographic prints ever assembled in Amsterdam.

Cornelis Mortier Biography

Cornelis Mortier (1699-1783) was a Dutch publisher who specialized in geography. Cornelis’ father, Pierre Mortier the Elder (1661-1711), had obtained a privilege in 1690 to distribute the works of French geographers in the Netherlands. After his widow continued the business for several years, Cornelis took over in 1719.

In 1721, Mortier forged a partnership with Johannes Covens, who had recently married Cornelis’ sister. They published under the joint name of Covens & Mortier. Their firm was one of the largest and most successful in Dutch history and continued in business until the late-nineteenth century.

In 1774, upon the death of his father, Johannes Covens II (1722-1794) took over his father’s share. In 1778, the company changed its name to J. Covens & Zoon, or J. Covens & Son. Covens II’s son, Cornelis (1764-1825), later inherited the business and brought Petrus Mortier IV back into the fold. Petrus was the great-grandson of Petrus Mortier I. From 1794, the business was called Mortier, Covens & Zoon, or Mortier, Covens, & Son.

The business specialized in publishing French geographers including Deslisle, Jaillot, and Sanson. They also published atlases, for example a 1725 reissue of Frederik de Wit’s Atlas Major and an atlas, with additions, from the works of Guillaume Delisle. There were also Covens & Mortier pocket atlases and town atlases. The company profited from acquiring plates from other geographers as well. For example, the purchased Pieter van der Aa’s plates in 1730. Finally, they also compiled a few maps in house. At their height, they had the largest collection of geographic prints ever assembled in Amsterdam.