Joachim Ottens; 1663-1719.
Reiner Ottens (son); 1698-1750.
Joshua Ottens (son); 1704-1765.
Joachim Ottens founded the publishing business in Amsterdam,
but it really succeeded after the two sons took over.
Of note; the multi volume "Atlas Maior" (1720-1750), the single
volume "Atlas Minor" (1725-1750), the "Atlas de la navigation
et du commerce" (1739, 1745; after the 1715 work of Louis
Renard).
Their work was well known for its decorative aspect (often
very well colored, which was unusual at that time for originals).
Being good engravers working for well known mapmakers, they
also borrowed freely from earlier and more recent works. For
this reason, the Ottens maps are often attributed to other
famous map makers, such as Frederick de Wit, Louis Renard,
Johann Baptiste Homann,..
Indiarum Occidentalium tractus littorales cum insulis
Caribicis.
This large map (19"X22") is a faithful remake of the 1703
Louis Renard's work*,.down to the last details (safe for the
lack of the decorative edge, and for more accurate delineations
of both the Florida coastal channel, and of the Bahamas islands-
see Portinaro-Knirrsch, "The Cartography of North America",
p 210-211).
In contrast to new maps of that time (in particular by G Delisle),
the overall shape of the Florida peninsula is still very influenced
by the 1656 N Sanson seminal map. It was probably part of
the "Atlas de la navigation et du commerce" published between
1739 and 1745.
Fascinating details of the Spanish galleon fleet route through
the Caribbean Sea, bringing in from Spain men and rare commodities
(such as mercury), and carrying away the "treasures of the
King". The map is full of informations about the whole operation
(stopovers, currents, winds, time of the year,.revealing the
great interest that outsiders had for this extraordinary money
machine, which the Spanish successfully ran between c1525
and c1810.
Two extremely decorative cartouches:
- at the top: the gory details of rampant cannibalism (see
the human leg roasting on an open fire, while a heathen his
hacking away at the limbs of a bound prisoner).
- at the bottom; two western traders are evaluating the goods
proffered by the natives.
The open seas are decorated by a nice compass rose, and two
Dutch men-o-war.
No text on verso.
* Itself a reprint of a Frederick de Witt copper plate, complemented
by many details such as the routes of the galleons.
|