1719 (1780) OTTENS Map Belgium Flanders Rhein Benelux Nearly 1 Meter Wide, Densely Engraved, Extremely Rare! Start Price USD 299.99 Current Price USD 299.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, August 19, 2008 End Time Friday, August 29, 2008 Location Indianapolis, IN See more about '1719 (1780) OTTENS Map Belgium Flanders Rhein Benelux' Description Novissima et Accuratissima decem Austriacarum in Belgio Provinciarum Tabula...   86 x 49 cm copperplate engraving, 87 x 50 cm sheet size, original hand colour, engraved in Amsterdam circa 1719, printed in Augsburg circa 1780 We are pleased to offer this extremely scarce example of an impressively detailed map of Belgium, Flanders, Luxembourg and Western Germany compiled (and probably engraved) by Joachim Ottens (1663-1719), founder of the Amsterdam-based Ottens map and atlas publishing firm managed by his sons throughout much of the 18th century.  This example of the map was printed by the Augsburg publisher Josef Carmine (fl. 1780-1800) who removed the original text in the title block reading "Auctore Joachimo Ottens Geographo" and reengraved the plate with his name.  While "usurping" maps was commonplace in his day when copperplates changed ownership, Carmine was also known for shamelessly copying the original work of other printers, especially in the area of optical prints or perspective views and was described as a "miserable charlatan" in a lawsuit filed by another Augsburg printer.  However, in this case his "appropriation" of the Ottens plate many decades after it was engraved has resulted in the preservation of an extremely scarce map - there is only one example of the original Ottens map in the IKAR database and we can find no record whatsoever of this Carmine imprint of the plate, and no record of any sales of the map in any state by dealers or at auction.  Indeed, the scarcity of the map in any state can hardly be overstated.  The large format, rich detail and fine engraving work (Ottens trained as a master engraver under Frederik de Wit, and the cartography of the map is largely based on earlier maps by De Wit) make for a richly detailed map that captures a unique snapshot of the region as it stood in the early 18th century. We begin our survey of the map in the north where the map extends to Rotterdam - note depth soundings in Haringvliet and offshore: To get a sense of map detail consider that the distance from Brugge to Gent as seen in the enlarged photo below measures just 6 cm actual size: Antwerp and environs - note fortifications, canals, road network: Maastricht, Aachen and environs: Map continues as far south as Luxembourg City:   While an inset map presents the remainder of South Luxembourg and continues to Metz and Verdun: Course of the Rhein past Bonn, Cologne: : Map extends to Frankfurt and Mainz:   Note river "overspill" into map border: Finally, as we move north we find a few more minor revisions to Güssefeld's original map - Clarksville and Nashville appear in a recognisable if misspelled Tennessee while Frankfort and Lexington (but not Louisville) appear in an oddly truncated "Kentuky" The number of placenames is impressive indeed - to get a sense of this density consider that the area shown in the enlarged photo below is only ~ 7 x 4 cm actual size: Namur, Huy and environs - note pictorial topography and "forests" in the south Condition - Please note carefully:   Map is in overall very good condition as can be ascertained from photos, strong impression, good quality laid paper, fine hand colour work, image area largely pristine.  Three minor old repaired tears to lower margin with one tiny section of margin replaced at lower right, two folds as issued, close trim to margins.  Overall a well preserved example of an exceptionally scarce map that will that will make an elegant presentation if matted and framed.  Inquiries welcome and we encourage you to visit our other auctions on eBay. 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"Some to beautify their halls, parlours and chambers... liketh, loveth, getteth, and useth maps, charts, and geographical globes" - John Dee (1527-1608) "...Maps begin as dreams, pass through a finite life in the world, and resume as dreams again..," - Thomas Pynchon Maps and Atlases Globes and Planetaria Historic Town Views and Plans Engravings, Woodcuts and Lithographs Books and Ephemera Scientific Instruments Curiosities and Oddities   Place a Bid!