Scandinavia – Renier & Josua Ottens, c. 1740

“Carte la plus nouvelle de la Scandinavie ou les couronnes du Nord scavoir La Suede Le Dannemarc et la Norvege ou lon trouve la Mer Baltique et une grande partie de la Moscovie etc.” [The newest map of Scandinavia, or of the Northern Crowns, namely Sweden, Denmark and Norway, showing the Baltic Sea and a large part of Muscovy, etc.] Copper engraving, published c. 1740 by Reinier and Josua Ottens, “after Guillaume de L’Isle and other more recent observations”. With original hand-colouring. Size: 51.3 × 59.4 cm.

This finely executed general map of Scandinavia and the Baltic region extends from Iceland and the North Atlantic in the west to the White Sea, Novgorod and north-western Russia in the east, and from the North Cape to northern Germany, Poland and Lithuania in the south. Sweden and Finland form its geographical centre, surrounded by Norway, Denmark, the Baltic coasts, the Baltic lands and the western territories of the Russian Empire.

The Baltic Sea forms the core of the map. Its densely engraved image includes numerous rivers, lakes, mountain ranges, forests, cities and many smaller settlements. Finland still appears as part of the Swedish Empire, while Norway remained in a personal union under the King of Denmark. Above the title cartouche, three coats of arms refer to Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

At upper left is a separate map of Iceland, designated Islande au Roy de Danemarc: Iceland under the King of Denmark. The scale cartouche at upper right gives Swedish, German-Danish and French miles.

The map was produced in the decades following the Great Northern War of 1700–1721. Under the Peace of Nystad, Sweden lost Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and parts of Karelia to Russia. The Baltic Sea consequently changed from a region in which Sweden had long been the dominant power into one where Russia was becoming increasingly prominent.

Guillaume de L’Isle was one of the leading innovators of early eighteenth-century cartography. He based his maps as far as possible on astronomical observations, travel accounts and critically compared sources. The reference to De L’Isle and to “more recent observations” gave this Amsterdam edition a character of scientific authority.

The map belongs to the extensive Amsterdam map and print trade of Reinier and Josua Ottens. Their partnership began in 1726 and continued under that name until Reinier Ottens’s death in 1750. The firm issued both newly engraved maps and revised versions of existing plates.

Price: Euro 650,-