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.
![[Title Page - Backwards World Map! / California as an Island]](/map/small/41754.jpg)
Curious world map on title page, with the world projected backwards!
Rare Late State of De L’Isle's Map of America, Showing the Sea of the West and Recent Russian Discoveries A Covens & Mortier state of De L’Isle’s map of the Americas, with revisions to 1774. The map borrows from many contemporary sources,...
Antique Map of the Old World Nice full color example of Covens & Mortier's map of the Eastern Hemisphere, showing Africa to Japan and down to Australia. Nice interesting treatment of Australia.
![[Decorative Title Page--Table Des Cartes . . . ]](/map/small/63856.jpg)
Decorative contents page from a Mortier atlas. The map includes several iconic images of the period, including Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders and the great library scene across the bottom of the image. Fine old color example, with clean...
Striking example of Covens & Mortier's map of the World, showing California as an island. Five additional spheres across the top of the map illustrate night and day; the earth without water; the phases of the moon, and the eastern and western...
Nice Example of Covens & Mortimer's De L'Isle World Map Showcasing European Exploration This is an example of a first edition of Covens' and Mortiers' decorative double hemisphere map of the world by De L'Isle. It shows the extent of oceanic...
Fine Map of the Northern Hemisphere from Guillaume De L’Isle Covens and Mortier state of Guillaume De L'Isle's map of the Northern Hemisphere, originally published by De L'Isle in 1714. The map shows the entire Northern Hemisphere. The projection...
Fine Map of the Northern Hemisphere, With the Latest Russian Discoveries in the Northeast Asia Striking north polar projection which includes the latest Russian discoveries in the North Pacific. This is a rare 1741 edition of this important map,...
The Northeastern quadrant of Covens & Mortier's four-sheet edition of Popple's seminal map of North America, widely regarded as one of the two most important maps of North America produced in the 18th century (along with the Mitchell Map). Unlike...
One of the Earliest Appearances of New Orleans Nice old color example of Covens & Mortier's fine edition of Guillaume De L'Isle's seminal map, the most significant map of the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes published in the early part of the...
![Carte Particuliere De La Caroline Dresse sur les Memoires le plus Nouveaux Par Le Sieur S[anson] . . .](/map/small/58997.jpg)
A good example of Mortier's highly detailed map of the area around Charleston, South Carolina (founded 1669), the earliest obtainable map of South Carolina printed outside of England. Covens & Mortier's map is based upon surveys and manuscript...
Fine example of Mortier's regional map of the British Coastline from the Isle of Shepy to the region just south of Dover. Larger cities shown include Canterbury, Margae, Dover, Folkstone and Ashford. The map is drawn from the map of Henry Frix.
A spectacularly detailed map of Ireland, fabulously embellished with cartouches and scenes of the Spanish Armada surrounding the Island. Includes two of the largest and dramatic cartouches.
Striking old color example of Covens & Mortier's plan of Douay and the neighboring Fort D'Escape. The map focuses on the town fortifications and also includes details of the town plan, and neighboring fields and details. Coven's & Mortier's...
Rare engraved view of the city of Lubin in southwest Poland, published in Amsterdam, about 1721, by Covens & Mortier. The view was originally engraved for Braun & Hogenberg's Civitates Orbis Terrarum in 1617. The plate was eventually acquired...
Fine dark impression of Covens & Mortier's map of Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily, based upon the work of De L'Isle. Highly detailed throughout, showing towns, rivers, mountains, lakes, islands, roads, boundaries, etc.
