SEUTTER, Matthäus (1678–1757) – MELITE vulgo MALTA – 1741

Description

SEUTTER, Matthäus (1678–1757) – 1741

Title of Map: MELITE vulgo MALTA / cum vicinis GOZA, quae olim GAULOS, et COMINO insulis

Engraver: Matth Seutter Cartographer: uti exhibetur a nic. De Fer, nunc aeri incisa per Matth. Seutter, ‘S.C.M. Geogr.’. Augustanum.

Publisher: Along the bottom of the cartouche, the following words have been added: Cu[m] Gratia et Privil. S. R.I. Vicariat. In partib. Rheni, Sveviae, et Juris Franconici.

Place: Augsburg?

Year: 1741

Engraving size: 498 x 577mm

Verso: blank

Printing method: copper engraving.

Contemporary colouring Showing the harbour. Also coats of arms of Grand Masters from Fra Gerard to de Vilhena (1722-36). The title indicates that the map was based upon that by Nicolas de Fer.

Description: MELITE vulgo MALTA cum vicinis GOZA, quae olim GAULOS, et COMINO insulis, uti exhibetur a NIC. de FER, nunc aeri incise per MATTH. SEUTTER, S.C.M. GEOGR. AUGUSTANUM.

In state 1 and 2 there is an empty space beneath the scroll , but when Seutter was granted a ‘privilege’ to protect himself from plagiarism he created state 3. This had an inscribtion along the foot of the titlepiece : Cu[m] Gratia et Privil. S.R.I. Vicariatq. In partibq Rheni, Sveviae, et Juris Franconici. In 1726 Abbe de Vertot published in Paris the History of the Knights of Malta, English version 1728. a plan of the Valletta fortifications and a map of the Maltese islands by de Berey show the crowned hornwork at Floriana which was completed in 1719. The map indicates that the map was highly in demand and no doubt that is was one of the most decorative maps of Malta. The presence in Malta of the Hospitaller Knights contributed in no small measure to the production and circulation of a large quantity of maps of the island in various states of the same said map. This phenomenon of different variants started as early as the 16th century.This carried on in subsequent centuries, including the 18th century which saw different states of the maps by de Fer, Homann, Jaillot, de Vaugondy, de Palmeus, Bodenehr and von Zach.