COVENS. MORTIER. - Lot 24

COVENS. MORTIER. Nouvel atlas très exact et fort commode pour toutes sortes de personnes, contenant les principales cartes géographiques...de l'Académie royale des Sciences... A Amsterdam, chez Covens & Mortier, (after 1733). Small oblong folio bound in in-4 format (ca 25 x 17 cm). Slightly later speckled tan half-basane, ornate smooth spine, green title page, gilt title (slight rubbing, corners dulled, very slight foxing). An attractive copy of an edition of Covens & Mortier's Nouvel atlas très exact et fort commode... with period color highlights. Entirely mounted on tabs with a handsome title-frontispiece decorated with figures and landscapes, 2 plates of astronomical figures (signed 4a and 4b in the engraving), a large representation of the Celestial Globe with zodiac figures in 2 hemispheres, the World Map in 2 hemispheres and 28 maps on watermarked laid paper, i.e. 33 copper engravings in black. Bound with text pages, partially folded, in Dutch and French, Bericht aan de Lezer (1 p.), Nieuwe en gemakkelijke (6 pp.), Avis au lecteur (1 p.) and La Nouvelle Géographie aisée (6 pp.). Table of plates handwritten in contemporary brown ink, in fine. Complete with the engraving of the globes on bases shown and the engraving with the sea quadrant and armillary sphere (or artificial sphere in the title). After the map of the European continent, the various countries of Europe including Prussia, 3 Dutch maps, 2 for Scandinavia or Muscovy, European Turkey... Ends with Asia, Africa and the Americas, northern and southern. The maps (except for the Globe Céleste) were published by Covens & Mortier after 1730, based on Van der Aa's 1714 maps and marked "Suivant les Nouvelles Observations de Messrs. de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, etc. Augmentées de Nouveaux. À Amsterdam, chez Covens et Mortier". Each cartouche is beautifully decorated with figures, scenes, decorations or coats of arms; the first plates finely enhanced in watercolor and all maps enhanced with colored borders. Ex libris early 19th century G. Poignand. Koeman [C & M 13] and [Aa 8].