Impressive Ottens chart of the Atlantic extending from Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence River to the area near San Salvador, Brazil. It includes the eastern Caribbean, from Hispaniola eastward, offering a detailed representation of the Atlantic Coast. Notable features include Lange (Long) Island, Manathans (Manhattan) Island, Nieu Amsterdam, Staaten Island, Zuydt (East) River, and similarly detailed areas around Cape Cod and the New England coastline. The map also provides excellent detail in the eastern Caribbean and the South American coastline, particularly at the mouth of the Amazon.
The map was originally published by De Wit in 1675. In that and some subsequent editions, it had a large cartouche in the Atlantic with the title "Terra Nova ac Maris Tractus circa Novam Franciam, Angliam, Belgium, Venezuelam, Novam Andalusiam, Guianam, et Brasiliam." In the 1745 edition, that cartouche has been removed and only the one in South America remains.
The Ottens brothers, Reiner and Joshua, operated a successful printing partnership in the mid-eighteenth century (fl. 1726-1765). They began the venture in 1726, publishing maps and other prints as “R & I Ottens.” They specialized in the reprinting of others’ work, especially Guillaume De L’Isle. In 1750, Reiner died; his soon, also Reiner, took his place, but the firm began listing their works as “Joshua & Reiner Ottens.” The firm lasted until Joshua’s death in 1765. Joshua’s widow, Johanna de Lindt, sold their remaining stock of plates in 1784.