"Also known as
David Mortier
primary name: Mortier, David
Details
individual; publisher/printer; merchant/tradesman; Dutch; British; Male
Life dates
1673-1728
Address
Erasmus' Head, Strand, London.
Biography
A Dutchman, born in Amsterdam, brother of the famous Amsterdam bookseller Pieter (Pierre) who specialised in atlases (see I.H.van Eeghen, De Amsterdamse Boekhandel 1680-1725, Amsterdam 1960-6, III pp.253-5). David was naturalised in England on 10 July 1696 (see W.A.Shaw (ed), 'Letters of Denization and Acts of Naturalisation 1613-1700', Huguenot Society, XVIII 1911, p.243), and ran a bookselling business at the sign of Erasmus's Head near the Fountain Tavern in the Strand. Two catalogues of his stock have survived. The earlier, which can be dated c.1696, is of 8pp. and seems to contain plates imported from his brother in Amsterdam (BL 821 g.3(10)). The later, which has been dated c.1703, is of 46pp. and contains mostly imported maps (BL Sc.84(1)).
David was naturalised on his marriage in 1706, and remained in England until his death, apart from various periods in 1711-21 when he had to return to Amsterdam to help run Pierre's business after his brother's death (cf Tyacke p.124). During these years his shop at Erasmus's Head was run by his deputy Peter Dunoyer (Harris pp.140-1).
David is best known for his involvement in the publication from 1707 onwards of 'Britannia Illustrata', later called the 'Nouveau Théâtre de la Grande Bretagne' (see Bernard Adams, 'London Illustrated 1604-1851', 1983, pp.36-45).
Trade label in Heal Collection (Heal,17.106) states "Sold by David Mortier Book-Seller at ye Sign of Erasmus's head near Bedford house, all sorts of French and Latin Books."" - https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG83459, 13.01.2021
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