Original antique copper engraved map by Guillaume de l'Isle (1675-172, Geographer of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Paris
Published by Jean Covens & Corneille Mortier, Amsterdam, 1733
Covens & Mortier was one of the largest and most successful publishing firms in Dutch history and continued in business for over a century. Pierre Mortier the Elder had begun the business in 1690 and after his death it passed to his son, who formed a partnership with Covens after he had married in to the family. They published under the joint name of Covens & Mortier. The business specialized in publishing French geographers. 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.
