Mortier de Hooghe. Le Neptune François. 1700-1708. 3 parts in one volume, large folio

MORTIER, PIETER ̶ ROMEIN DE HOOGHE

Three parts in one volume, comprising:

Le Neptune François, ou Atlas Nouveau des Cartes Marines. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1708, title-page with engraved hand-coloured vignette, 6pp. of letterpress text, engraved plate of nautical scales, 30 engraved charts (one folding, 29 double-page), many with the indication "A Paris 1693" completely or partially removed, most with imprint "A. Amsterdam chez Pierre Mortier" or "A. Amsterdam chez Pierre Mortier et Compagnie Avev Privil.", "Carte generale de toutes les Costes du Monde" with the imprint of Baltasar Ruyter [Shirley 559], [cf. Koeman M. Mor 1A (1693, quotes frontispiece, 3 prints and 29 charts) and Koeman M.Mor 2B (1703, quotes frontispiece, 11 prints and 27 charts)]

Cartes Marines a l'usage des Armées du Roy de la Grande Bretagne. Amsterdam: Pierre Mortier, 1708, title-page with printed index and small hand-coloured engraved vignette, no text, 6 engraved charts (of 9), (3 double-page), [Koeman M. Mor 5 (Koeman quotes frontispiece and 9 plates)]

Suite du Neptune François, ou Atlas Nouveau des Cartes Marine. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1700, typographical title-page, 5pp. of letterpress text, engraved compass-card, 33 engraved charts (one folding, 21 double-page), [Koeman M. Mor 7 (Koeman quotes 18 prints of ships, and 4 engraved charts, of which 3 are printed later by Covens and Mortier)]

large folio (642 x 500mm.), together 2 engraved plates and 69 maps, all with fine contemporary hand-colour, contemporary calf, some maps and leaves detached, occasional minor loss or repairs (mainly to first title-page), occasional creasing or tears, binding worn with upper cover detached, a complete collation and condition report is available upon request

RARE PUBLICATIONS WITH MAGNIFICENT CONTEMPORARY HAND-COLOUR.

"The Neptune François and its second part Carte Marine was the most expensive sea-atlas ever published in Amsterdam in the 17th century. Its charts are larger and more lavishly decorated than those of any preceding book of its kind. For the engraving and etching Mortier had recruited the most qualified artists. Romein de Hooghe did the decorations on the charts of the second part. In 1700 Mortier brought out a third volume [Suite de Neptune].. This magnificent work was intended more as a show-piece rather than something to be used by the pilots at sea" (Koeman).