This product is successfully added to your cart
Questions about this product? (#23549)

Authenticity Guarantee
All items are guaranteed authentic prints (woodcuts or engravings) or manuscripts made at or about (c.) the given date and in good condition unless stated otherwise. We don’t sell facsimiles or reproductions. We deliver every map with a Certificate of Authenticity containing all the details.

Milan (Milano), by Covens & Mortier. 1721-41

Covens & Mortier. A Map Publishing House in Amsterdam. 1721-1866.

For almost two centuries, the most significant and crucial Dutch publishing house in commercial cartography was the Amsterdam firm of Covens & Mortier. Concerning quantity, it was the biggest contemporary map-trading house worldwide. They distributed innumerable maps, atlases, globes, and books.

Pieter (Pierre) Mortier (Leiden, 1661 – Amsterdam, 1711)

Nothing is known about the youth of Pieter Mortier. He studied in Paris from 1681 to approximately 1685. He must have come into contact with French 'libraires' and learned the bookselling trade there. In 1685, he returned to Amsterdam and opened a small bookshop. He joined the Book, Art Sellers' and Printers' Guild in the same year.

Pieter sold books in Dutch and foreign languages, but he also published books on his own, usually in French. His business flourished so much that in 1688, he was forced to rent another house on the Vijgendam.

Pieter Mortier's first privilege for maps was granted by the States of Holland and West Friesland on September 15 1690. It refers to the maps of Sanson that he 'is printing and correcting with great pains and care'.

Pieter began the large-scale publication of maps and atlases. By the beginning of the 18th century, Pieter had become so wealthy that he could purchase three houses in Amsterdam: the Beurssluis, on the Vijgendam, and the Heremietensteeg. He rebuilt the house on the Vijgendam into a large, prestigious house that would serve for over a century as a shop, business, and residential structure for Covens & Mortier's publishing house.

He died on February 13, 1711, after a brief illness. The company continued under Pieter's widow's management, Amelia' s-Gravesande.

After she died in 1719, her son, Cornelis, took over the management for a few years.

On November 20, 1721, a company was founded by Cornelis Mortier and Johannes Covens I. The latter was married the same year to Cornelis's sister. From that year on, the name of :

Covens & Mortier.

Their firm would see a massive expansion in the next 140 years. In 1732, the heirs sold the property to their brother Cornelis and his partner Covens. Their main competitors were Reinier & Josua Ottens and Gerard Valck & Petrus Schenck. After the death of Johannes Covens I (1774), his son Johannes Covens II (1722-1794) entered the business. In 1778, Johannes added a new company name :

J. Covens & Son.

Johannes Covens II was succeeded by his son Cornelis Covens (1764-1825), who, in turn, brought Peter Mortier IV, the great-grandson of Petrus Mortier I, into the business. The name was from 1794 to 1866:

Mortier, Covens & Son.

The last Covens in the series was Cornelis Johannes Covens (1806-1880).

Covens & Mortier had a large stock of atlases and maps, including Delisle, Jaillot, Johannes Janssonius, Sanson, and Claes Jansz. Visscher, Nicolaas Visscher, and Frederik de Wit. For decades, an impressive number of atlases came from the press.

back

Le Duché de Milan dans toute son estendue ...

SOLD

Item Number:  23549 Authenticity Guarantee

Category:  Antique maps > Europe > Italy

Map of the duchy of Milan by Covens & Mortier.

Copper engraving
Size: 53.5 x 68cm (20.9 x 26.5 inches)
Verso: Blank
Condition: Old body colour, on heavy paper, excellent.
Condition Rating: A

From: Composite Atlas. Amsterdam, Covens & Mortier, c. 1720.

Covens & Mortier. A Map Publishing House in Amsterdam. 1721-1866.

For almost two centuries, the most significant and crucial Dutch publishing house in commercial cartography was the Amsterdam firm of Covens & Mortier. Concerning quantity, it was the biggest contemporary map-trading house worldwide. They distributed innumerable maps, atlases, globes, and books.

Pieter (Pierre) Mortier (Leiden, 1661 – Amsterdam, 1711)

Nothing is known about the youth of Pieter Mortier. He studied in Paris from 1681 to approximately 1685. He must have come into contact with French 'libraires' and learned the bookselling trade there. In 1685, he returned to Amsterdam and opened a small bookshop. He joined the Book, Art Sellers' and Printers' Guild in the same year.

Pieter sold books in Dutch and foreign languages, but he also published books on his own, usually in French. His business flourished so much that in 1688, he was forced to rent another house on the Vijgendam.

Pieter Mortier's first privilege for maps was granted by the States of Holland and West Friesland on September 15 1690. It refers to the maps of Sanson that he 'is printing and correcting with great pains and care'.

Pieter began the large-scale publication of maps and atlases. By the beginning of the 18th century, Pieter had become so wealthy that he could purchase three houses in Amsterdam: the Beurssluis, on the Vijgendam, and the Heremietensteeg. He rebuilt the house on the Vijgendam into a large, prestigious house that would serve for over a century as a shop, business, and residential structure for Covens & Mortier's publishing house.

He died on February 13, 1711, after a brief illness. The company continued under Pieter's widow's management, Amelia' s-Gravesande.

After she died in 1719, her son, Cornelis, took over the management for a few years.

On November 20, 1721, a company was founded by Cornelis Mortier and Johannes Covens I. The latter was married the same year to Cornelis's sister. From that year on, the name of :

Covens & Mortier.

Their firm would see a massive expansion in the next 140 years. In 1732, the heirs sold the property to their brother Cornelis and his partner Covens. Their main competitors were Reinier & Josua Ottens and Gerard Valck & Petrus Schenck. After the death of Johannes Covens I (1774), his son Johannes Covens II (1722-1794) entered the business. In 1778, Johannes added a new company name :

J. Covens & Son.

Johannes Covens II was succeeded by his son Cornelis Covens (1764-1825), who, in turn, brought Peter Mortier IV, the great-grandson of Petrus Mortier I, into the business. The name was from 1794 to 1866:

Mortier, Covens & Son.

The last Covens in the series was Cornelis Johannes Covens (1806-1880).

Covens & Mortier had a large stock of atlases and maps, including Delisle, Jaillot, Johannes Janssonius, Sanson, and Claes Jansz. Visscher, Nicolaas Visscher, and Frederik de Wit. For decades, an impressive number of atlases came from the press.

Related items

Milano by A. Ortelius.

Ducatus Mediolanensis, finitimarumq, Regionu descriptio, auctore Ioanne Georgio Septala Mediolanense. 1601
Milano by A. Ortelius.
[Item number: 8062]

€460  ($501.4 / £386.4)
Milano by Johannes Janssonius.

Stato di Milano. 1656-80
Milano by Johannes Janssonius.
[Item number: 15712]

€360  ($392.4 / £302.4)
Milano, by Janssonius J. - Hondius H.

Ducato ouero Territorio di Milano. 1644-58
Milano, by Janssonius J. - Hondius H.
[Item number: 19231]

€350  ($381.5 / £294)
Milano (South), by Janssonius J. - Hondius H.

Territorio di Pavia, Lodi, Noavarra, Tortona, Allessandria et altri vicini dello Stato di Milano. 1644-58
Milano (South), by Janssonius J. - Hondius H.
[Item number: 19238]

€400  ($436 / £336)
Milano by Abraham Ortelius.

Ducatus Mediolanensis, finitimarumq, Regionu descriptio, auctore Ioanne Georgio Septala Mediolanense. 1579
Milano by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 23348]

€270  ($294.3 / £226.8)
Northern Italy, by Covens & Mortier. (5 maps)

Le Cours du Po. 1721-41
Northern Italy, by Covens & Mortier. (5 maps)
[Item number: 23543]

€800  ($872 / £672)
Piedmonte & Montferrato by Guillaume Delisle, published by Covens & Mortier.

Carte du Piemont et du Monferrat. 1721-41
Piedmonte & Montferrato by Guillaume Delisle, published by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23546]

€500  ($545 / £420)
Northern Italy, by Covens & Mortier.

Les Montagnes des Alpes ou sont Remarques les Passages de France en Italie. Le Duche de Milan, et les Estats du Duc de Savoye &c. 1721-41
Northern Italy, by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23547]

€550  ($599.5 / £462)
Verona and Garda lake, by Covens & Mortier.

Carte Nouvelle du Territoire de Verone 1721-41
Verona and Garda lake, by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23554]

€500  ($545 / £420)
Vicenza, by Covens & Mortier.

Carte Nouvelle du Territoire de Vicenza, ou sont Marquees Toutes les Vallees, Cols, Passages et Mines d'Argent 1721-41
Vicenza, by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23555]

€320  ($348.8 / £268.8)
Padova by Covens & Mortier.

Carte Nouvelle du Padouan, et le Polesin de Rovigo, de la Pepublique de Venise 1721-41
Padova by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23556]

€460  ($501.4 / £386.4)
Mantova by Covens & Mortier.

Carte Nouvelle du Duché de Mantoue. 1721-41
Mantova by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23557]

€400  ($436 / £336)
Emilia-Romagna, by N. Sanson - Covens & Mortier.

Carte Nouvelle du Duche de Modene, de Regio et de Carpi; avec la Seigneurie de la Cafargnana 1721-41
Emilia-Romagna, by N. Sanson - Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 23558]

€450  ($490.5 / £378)
Central Italy, by Covens & Mortier

Estats de l'Eglise et de Toscane ... 1721-41
Central Italy, by Covens & Mortier
[Item number: 23559]

€400  ($436 / £336)
Brescia - Milano, by Gerard Mercator.

Brescia Episcopanus Mediolanu Ducatus. 1613
Brescia - Milano, by Gerard Mercator.
[Item number: 24513]

€380  ($414.2 / £319.2)
Milano, by P. Van der Aa.

Carte Particuliere et toute Nouvelle du Milanois. Avec tous ses confins. 1713
Milano, by P. Van der Aa.
[Item number: 26084]

€450  ($490.5 / £378)
Milan (South), by Johannes Janssonius.

Territorio di Pavia, Lodi, Noavarra, Tortona, Allessandria et altri vicini dello Stato di Milano. 1641
Milan (South), by Johannes Janssonius.
[Item number: 26380]

€320  ($348.8 / £268.8)
Milan (South), by Willem & Joan Blaeu

Territorio di Pavia, Lodi, Noavarra, Tortona, Allessandria et altri vicini dello Stato di Milano. 1640
Milan (South), by Willem & Joan Blaeu
[Item number: 27211]

€400  ($436 / £336)
Western part of the State of Milan with a plan of Como on verso, by Vincenzo Coronelli.

Stato di Milano Parte Occidentale. 1696
Western part of the State of Milan with a plan of Como on verso, by Vincenzo Coronelli.
[Item number: 28734]

€350  ($381.5 / £294)
Duchy of Milan by Pierre Mortier.

Spectacular wall map of North Italy. Heightened in gold.
Théatre de la Guerre en Italie Qui comprend le Duché de Milan, dans toute son Estendue & les Estats et Frontières qui l'environnent 1703
Duchy of Milan by Pierre Mortier.
[Item number: 29507]

€3800  ($4142 / £3192)
Northern Milan by Willem & Joan Blaeu

Parte Alpestre dello Stato di Milano Con il Lago Maggiore di Lugano, é di Como. 1640
Northern Milan by Willem & Joan Blaeu
[Item number: 29715]

€420  ($457.8 / £352.8)