de Hooghe’s spectacular chart of the Mediterranean Sea

A scarce separate-issue of a monumental chart of the Mediterranean Sea, with 38 insets of harbours, all in full colour. Throughout the seas are numerous galleons and galleys, while allegorical figures and sea monsters adorn the insets. This chart originally appeared in one part of Pierre Mortier's 'Neptune François', titled 'Cartes Marines a l'Usage des Armées du Roy de la Grande Bretagne' in 1693, which was dedicated to William III, the Dutchman on the English throne since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The nine charts of this section, all etched by de Hooghe, were described by Koeman as the 'most spectacular type of maritime cartography ever produced in 17th century Amsterdam', 'the most expensive sea atlas', 'intended more as a show-piece than something to be used by the pilots at sea'. The Mediterranean is the largest and most intricately decorated of the nine. Mortier's son and son-in-law took over the business in 1721. They never re-issued the 'Cartes Marines' atlas, but obviously felt that this cartographic masterpiece was worth republishing.