Scarce sea chart of the Nord Zee and Oost Zee, including parts of the coast of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Holland, published in Amsterdam by Reiner & Josha Ottens.
The chart is oriented with West at the top and is perhaps most recognizable for the remarkable engraving quality, most notably the finely executed allegorical title cartouche.
This chart was first published by Frederick De Wit and later issued by Renard and by the Ottens firm.
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.