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An attactive example of Mortier's map of the World, Shirley 581. Superbly decorated, elegantly engraved and full of cartographic intrigue, including an incomplete NW coast of America, incomplete Australia and New Zealand, misdirected tip of South America and remnants of the unknown Southern Continent. Normally a $3500-4000 map, this example has added margins and some loss within the neatlines, in the blank ocean, which have been expertly repaired. A visually attractive example at a substantially reduced price.
Pierre, or Pieter, Mortier (1661-1711) was a Dutch engraver, son of a French refugee. He was born in Leiden. In 1690 he was granted a privilege to publish French maps in Dutch lands. In 1693 he released the first and accompanying volume of the Neptune Francois. The third followed in 1700. His son, Cornelis (1699-1783), would partner with Johannes Covens I, creating one of the most important map publishing companies of the eighteenth century.
