Conjuring Tricks Conjuring Tricks with Copperplates and Maps:with Copperplates and Maps:The Versatile Practice of The Versatile Practice of

Amending Printed Maps by the Amending Printed Maps by the Dutch Firm of Covens & Dutch Firm of Covens &

MortierMortierPaper XIX International Conference on the History of Paper XIX International Conference on the History of

CartographyCartography

Marco van EgmondMarco van Egmondhttp://home.hetnet.nl/~MaGer01http://home.hetnet.nl/~MaGer01

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 2

Covens & Mortier (1685-Covens & Mortier (1685-1866): 1866):

A Commercial Cartographic A Commercial Cartographic FirmFirm

Pieter Mortier (1661-1711) Cornelis Joannes Covens (1806-1890)

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 3

Types of Plate ChangesTypes of Plate Changes(after Verner (1974) and Campbell (1989))(after Verner (1974) and Campbell (1989))

• Geographical (topography and toponyms)• Mathematical (scale, etc.)• Bibliographical (title, imprint, etc.)• Decorative (cartouches, ships, etc.)• Maintenance (re-cutting, cutting down the plate, etc.)

• Accidental damage (scratches and splits)

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 4

Geographical Changes on Map of Geographical Changes on Map of EuropeEurope

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 5

Mathematical Changes on Mathematical Changes on Map of Franche-ComteMap of Franche-Comte

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 6

Simultaneous Occurrence of Simultaneous Occurrence of Printed and Manuscript Printed and Manuscript

Graticular GridGraticular Grid

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 7

Bibliographical Change on Bibliographical Change on Map of Venetian RepublicMap of Venetian Republic

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 8

Bibliographical Change on Bibliographical Change on Map of Paris and Map of Paris and SurroundingsSurroundings

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 9

Bibliographical and Bibliographical and Decorative Changes on Map Decorative Changes on Map

of Europeof Europe

Van Schagen Covens & Mortier

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 10

Engraved Error on Map of Engraved Error on Map of NiedersachsenNiedersachsen

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 11

Correction ‘Engraved Error’ Correction ‘Engraved Error’ on on

Map of Seventeen ProvincesMap of Seventeen Provinces

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 12

Correction on Map of Correction on Map of MediterraneanMediterranean

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 13

Decorative Change on Decorative Change on Map of Duchy of MilanMap of Duchy of Milan

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 14

Re-cutting Engraved Lines Re-cutting Engraved Lines on on

Map of Northern ScandinaviaMap of Northern Scandinavia

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 15

Maintenance of a Maintenance of a CopperplateCopperplate

• New engraving on recto of the plate

• New engraving on verso of the plate

• New printing platform

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Replacement Map of GermanyReplacement Map of Germany

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Page from Stock Catalogue Page from Stock Catalogue 17631763

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Ever-increasing Splits on Map Ever-increasing Splits on Map of Franceof France

De Wit Covens & Mortier

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Amendments Damaged Amendments Damaged CopperplatesCopperplates

Faenza and FerraraFaenza and Ferrara

Blaeu Covens & Mortier

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Gradual Fading of Grid-workGradual Fading of Grid-work

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Alterations to Printed MapsAlterations to Printed Maps

• Manuscript additions• Printed additions• Pasted-on slips of paper• Erased printed matter from the impression

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 22

Manuscript Additions to Manuscript Additions to Map of Kingdom of NaplesMap of Kingdom of Naples

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 23

Printed Additions to Map of Printed Additions to Map of FranceFrance

10/09/22 Marco van Egmond 24

Pasted-down Slip of Paper on Pasted-down Slip of Paper on Map of GelderlandMap of Gelderland

Cornelis Covens (1764-1825)

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Pasted-on Title-slips on Plan of Pasted-on Title-slips on Plan of AmsterdamAmsterdam

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Erased Printed Matter from Erased Printed Matter from Map of GelderlandMap of Gelderland

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A Typological FrameworkA Typological FrameworkChanges Cartobibliographical term Geographical Plate I, state 2 M athematical Plate I, state 2 Bibliographical Plate I, state 2 Decorative Plate I, state 2 M aintenance

- re-cutting- re-sizing- new engraving recto- new engraving verso- new plate

- Plate I, state 2- Plate I, state 2- Plate II or Ib (recto plate I), state 1- Plate II or Ib (verso plate I), state 1- Plate II, state 1

Copperplate(Plate I, state 1) Protoype Derivative Ectype Piracy

Accidental damage Plate I, state 2?(N.B. no normal plate wear)

M anuscript additions Plate I, state 1 (variant copy) Printed additions Plate I, state 1 (variant copy) Pasted-on slips of paper Plate I, state 1 (variant copy)

Printed map(From plate I, state 1)N.B. M ore than one copy!

Erased printed matter Plate I, state 1 (variant copy)

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ConclusionConclusion

• Copperplates and printed maps in stock were valuable

• Good profits commended a higher priority than outward quality

• Practice of amending printed maps seems like a ‘conjuring trick’

• Typological framework may help to reveal the juggler’s methods

Conjuring Tricks Conjuring Tricks with Copperplates and Maps:with Copperplates and Maps:The Versatile Practice of The Versatile Practice of

Amending Printed Maps by the Amending Printed Maps by the Dutch Firm of Covens & Dutch Firm of Covens &

MortierMortierPaper XIX International Conference on the History of Paper XIX International Conference on the History of

CartographyCartography

Marco van EgmondMarco van Egmondhttp://home.hetnet.nl/~MaGer01http://home.hetnet.nl/~MaGer01