Beschreibung:

Le Neptune Franç ois ou Atlas nouveau des cartes marines. Paris: Hubert Jaillot [but Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier], 1693 – [Part 2] Atlas maritime. Cartes marines a l’usage des arm ées du Roy de la Grande Bretagne . Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1693. A triumph of Dutch 17th-century map publishing [and piracy]. The Neptune françois was counterfeited by Pieter Mortier of Amsterdam who had all the plates from the French first edition very precisely re-engraved. The second part was not based on a French prototype but on manuscript charts engraved by Romein de Hooghe, at that time in the service of William III of England. Although it only contains nine large charts, ‘this small number represents the most spectacular type of maritime cartography ever produced in 17th century Amsterdam’ [Koeman IV, Mor 5]. Together the two parts constituted a most luxurious sea-atlas. ‘Its charts are larger and more lavishly decorated than those of any preceding book of this kind … This magnificent work was intended more as a show-piece than something to be used by the pilots at sea’ (Koeman IV, p.424). A third part Suite du Neptune f ranç ois , with charts of the outer European waters, published in 1700, is not present here. Koeman IV, pp.425-428 M.Mor-1 & M.Mor-5; Pastoureau p.354 NF Ba; Phillips , Atlases 517; Shirley BL II, M.Nep-1a (incomplete copy). 2 parts in one volume, large folio (644 x 483mm.). Part 1: engraved frontispiece by Jan van Vianen after P. La Pautre and J. Berrin, title in red and black with ship vignette, 3ll. of text in French, 3 engraved plates of ships, plate of comparative nautical scales in Dutch, French and English, 29 double-page engraved charts, one also folding, all fully coloured by a contemporary hand (outer margin of frontispiece a little worn, title and first ship plate waterstained at upper margin, text leaves browned, 4th map of Brittany spotted, light offsetting). Part 2: etched frontispiece by Romein de Hooghe, title in red and black with ship vignette, 9 engraved and etched charts by de Hooghe, of which 5 double- and 3 single-page, with inset ports and harbours, all fully coloured by a contemporary hand (waterstain at upper margin of title also affecting one map, one or two edge repairs, folding chart with 225mm clean tear repaired on verso, another repair along fold line, light offsetting). Contemporary Dutch calf, gilt-panelled covers displaying an armillary sphere within a central cartouche, floral corner-pieces (rebacked, some restoration at edges). Provenance : Charles White 1826 (inscription at head of frontispiece and monogram crest at foot).