Macedonia, Birthplace of Alexander the Great.

Mortier, Pierre. Macedonia. "Macedonia Alexandri Magni Patria." Amsterdam Petrum Mortier 1705
Copper engraved map of Macedonia by Pierre Mortier from his "Atlas Antiquus" edited by Joannes Clericus. Original outline colour; verso blank.
The map shows the kingdom of Macedonia, birth place of Alexander the Great; part of Thesaly and Epirus and an unnamed, strangely shaped Kerkyra. Dark impression: generally clean and bright; age toning to edges .

Mortier, Pierre
1661 - 1711

Pieter (Pierre) Mortier (1661 - 1711) was a French cartographer, engraver, and print seller active in Amsterdam during the later 17th and early 18th centuries.


Pieter Mortier was listed as a member of the booksellers guide on 27 august 1685. Being from French heritage, he had more easy access to French cartographers such as De L'Isle, Sanson, Jaillot, de Fer and De Wit.
Consequently, much of Mortier's business was built upon leveraging the sophisticated Dutch printing establishment to issue embellished high quality editions of previously contemporary French maps.

In the greater context of global cartography, this was a significant advantage as most Dutch map publishes had, at this point, fallen into the miasma of reprinting their own outdated works.
By contrast, the cartographers of France were producing the most accurate and up to date charts anywhere.

Mortier's cartographic work culminated in the magnificent nautical atlas, Le Neptune Francois. Upon Pierre's death in 1711 this business was inherited by his widow.
In 1721 his son Cornelius Mortier took over the day to day operation of the firm.
Cornelius partnered with his brother-in-law Jean Covens to form one of history's great cartographic partnerships - Covens and Mortier - which continued to publish maps and atlases until about 1866.
[Koeman III pp4-10].
Zacharakis;2394/1567; KoemanIII:Mor 4;map62. 439 by 555mm (17¼ by 21¾ inches).   ref: 2523  €650