This product is successfully added to your cart
Questions about this product? (#28284)

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.

17 Provinces, by Frederik de Wit, published by Covens & Mortier. c. 1715

Frederick de Wit (1630-1706)

The engraver and map-seller, Frederick de Wit, was born in Gouda (Netherlands) in 1630 as a son of Hendrick Fredericksz de Wit. Through his marriage with Maria van der Waag of Amsterdam in 1661, he obtained citizenship of the city where he had been working since 1648 and where he became one of the most famous engravers of maps of the second half of the 17th century. Although De Wit was a Catholic, which meant that he was not favoured at the time by the city council, he was awarded the honour of being listed as one of the "excellent citizens" on the roll of the city council in the years 1694-1704. However, his name was not written in the Guild of St. Luke book before 1664. At that time, he lived on the Kalverstraat "in de Witte Pascaert", where he stayed until his death in 1706. His earliest dates on maps engraved are 1659 (Regni Daniae) and 1660 (World map).

Frederick de Wit published several world atlases, a sea atlas, and an atlas of the Netherlands.

The dating of the maps is difficult. However, as a privilege was granted in 1689, the annotation 'cum privilegio' marks an edition after 1688.

Around 1700, Frederick de Wit entered the market with a town atlas. He produced two volumes with a total of 260 plans and views. Most were printed from plates used for Janssonius and Blaeu town atlases.

After he died in 1706, his widow continued the shop until 1709. The plates and stock of De Wit's atlas were sold to Covens & Mortier in 1710, who sold the atlas for an extended period.


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

Novissima et accuratissima XVII provinciarum Germaniae Inferioris Tabula.

€500  ($560 / £420)
add to cart
Buy now
questions?
PRINT

Item Number:  28284 Authenticity Guarantee

Category:  Antique maps > Europe > The Low Countries

Old, antique map of the XVII Provinces by Frederik de Wit, published by Covens & Mortier.

Title: Novissima et accuratissima XVII provinciarum Germaniae Inferioris Tabula.
Ex Officina I. Covens et C. Mortier.

With dedication to Johann Munter by Frederik de Wit.

Oriented to the west.

Cartographer: Frederik de Wit.

Date of the first edition: c. 1672.
Date of this map: c. 1715.

Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 470 x 555mm (18.5 x 21.85 inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Original coloured in outline, excellent.
Condition Rating: A+.
References: cf. Van der Heijden (Netherlands), #145 State 4

From: Composite Atlas. Amsterdam, J. Covens & C. Mortier, c.1721-29.

Frederick de Wit (1630-1706)

The engraver and map-seller, Frederick de Wit, was born in Gouda (Netherlands) in 1630 as a son of Hendrick Fredericksz de Wit. Through his marriage with Maria van der Waag of Amsterdam in 1661, he obtained citizenship of the city where he had been working since 1648 and where he became one of the most famous engravers of maps of the second half of the 17th century. Although De Wit was a Catholic, which meant that he was not favoured at the time by the city council, he was awarded the honour of being listed as one of the "excellent citizens" on the roll of the city council in the years 1694-1704. However, his name was not written in the Guild of St. Luke book before 1664. At that time, he lived on the Kalverstraat "in de Witte Pascaert", where he stayed until his death in 1706. His earliest dates on maps engraved are 1659 (Regni Daniae) and 1660 (World map).

Frederick de Wit published several world atlases, a sea atlas, and an atlas of the Netherlands.

The dating of the maps is difficult. However, as a privilege was granted in 1689, the annotation 'cum privilegio' marks an edition after 1688.

Around 1700, Frederick de Wit entered the market with a town atlas. He produced two volumes with a total of 260 plans and views. Most were printed from plates used for Janssonius and Blaeu town atlases.

After he died in 1706, his widow continued the shop until 1709. The plates and stock of De Wit's atlas were sold to Covens & Mortier in 1710, who sold the atlas for an extended period.


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.

References: Van der Heijden (Netherlands) - Cf. #145 State 4; Carhart de Wit (2016) - p. 373-374, 112.6

Related items

XVII Provinces by Abraham Ortelius.

Descriptio Germaniae Inferioris. 1579
XVII Provinces by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 21663]

€500  ($560 / £420)
The 17 Provinces, by Ludovico Guicciardini.

Belgiae Inferioris descriptio emendata cum circu(m)jacentium regionum confinijs. 1609
The 17 Provinces, by Ludovico Guicciardini.
[Item number: 25913]

€280  ($313.6 / £235.2)
The 17 Provinces, by Matthäus Merian.

Belgii sive Germania Inferioris - Nider Teutschlandt. 1638
The 17 Provinces, by Matthäus Merian.
[Item number: 26030]

€360  ($403.2 / £302.4)
The 17 Provinces, by Henricus Hondius.

belgii sive germaniae inferioris accuratissima tabula. auctore henrico hondio 1631. amstelodami, sumptibus henrici hondio 1631. 1641
The 17 Provinces, by Henricus Hondius.
[Item number: 26301]

€1400  ($1568 / £1176)
XVII Provinces, by Gerard de Jode.

Germania Inferior. Gallia Belgica Dicta, continens Hispaniarum Regis Provincias Septentrionales. 1593
XVII Provinces, by Gerard de Jode.
[Item number: 27943]

€2800  ($3136 / £2352)
XVII Provinces, by A. Goos - J. Janssonius.

Belgium sive Inferior Germania. 1630
XVII Provinces, by A. Goos - J. Janssonius.
[Item number: 27988]

€360  ($403.2 / £302.4)
17 Provinces, by Willem Blaeu.

Novus XVII Inferioris Germaniae Provinciarum Typus. 1631
17 Provinces, by Willem Blaeu.
[Item number: 28019]

€1600  ($1792 / £1344)
17 Provinces, by Willem Blaeu.

Novus XVII Inferioris Germaniae Provinciarum Typus. 1664-65
17 Provinces, by Willem Blaeu.
[Item number: 28110]

€1100  ($1232 / £924)
Seventeen Provinces by Nicolaes Visscher I.

Novissima et accuratissima XVII Provinciarum Germaniae Inferioris Delineatio. c. 1656
Seventeen Provinces by Nicolaes Visscher I.
[Item number: 28539]

€750  ($840 / £630)
XVII Provinces by Abraham Ortelius.

Descriptio Germaniae Inferioris. 1603
XVII Provinces by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 28899]

€1250  ($1400 / £1050)
The 17 Provinces, by Giovanni Magini.

Belgium seu Germania Inferior. 1594
The 17 Provinces, by Giovanni Magini.
[Item number: 28914]

€450  ($504 / £378)
XVII Provinces (Low Countries) by Joannes Janssonius.

In luxury colouring
Nova Totius Belgii Sive Germaniae Inferioris. 1666
XVII Provinces (Low Countries) by Joannes Janssonius.
[Item number: 30079]

€850  ($952 / £714)
17 Provinces by Petrus Kaerius (Pieter Van den Keere).

Novus XVII Inferioris Germaniae Provinciarum Typus. 1617
17 Provinces by Petrus Kaerius (Pieter Van den Keere).
[Item number: 30258]

€2750  ($3080 / £2310)