Quebec is the proud title given to this arresting 1740 birds-eye view, engraved by the Amsterdam house of Covens & Mortier after Henry Popple’s celebrated work and ultimately descending from Franquelin’s 1688 drawing. Seen from across the broad St. Lawrence, the city rises in a theatrical profile of cliffs, ramparts, and spires, its skyline punctuated by high churches and sturdy public buildings. A keyed legend identifies ten principal structures—from The Fort and its Ravelins to the Cathedral, Jesuits, and Hotel Dieu—offering a concise urban portrait at a formative moment in New France. On the river, ships fly Fleur-de-Lys pennants, signaling French power and the port’s vitality. This is a city view that doubles as strategic brief and civic pageant.

The composition makes explicit Quebec’s extraordinary topography and defenses. The promontory commands the channel, with The Fort, The Ravelins, The Redoubt, and The Platform arranged to cover approaches and dominate the shipping lanes below. The choice of vantage reveals the urban organism in layers: the busy riverfront stretching along the base and the elevated precincts that housed authority and faith above. Though streets are not named, the graded terraces of Upper and Lower Town emerge clearly, the very lack of street detail directing attention to the fortified envelope and monumental nodes that defined the city’s colonial identity.

Ecclesiastical and scholarly institutions stand at the heart of this portrait. The Jesuits, the Seminary, the Cathedral, the Bishop’s House, and the Hospital/Hôtel-Dieu are singled out in the legend, their lofty silhouettes knitting together power, piety, and learning. In 18th-century Quebec, these foundations shaped education, charity, and governance—functions the engraver elevates by casting their towers and domes as the principal markers of place. The clustering of cathedral, seminary, and episcopal residence testifies to a metropolitan church guiding civic life, while the hospitals speak to a network of care on the colonial frontier. The map’s emphasis on spires and cloisters captures the city’s identity as both fortress and sanctuary.

The St. Lawrence River, rendered as a stage for commerce and command, completes the scene. Warships and merchantmen under the Fleur-de-Lys course before the town, evoking convoys, supply chains, and the maritime rhythm that connected Quebec to the Gulf and, beyond, to France. In the absence of street labeling, the waterfront itself becomes the map’s narrative spine: a line of quays, warehouses, and staging grounds implied by hulls at anchor and sails in formation. Popple’s and Covens & Mortier’s choice to people the river with movement underscores Quebec’s role as gateway to the interior—where pelts, provisions, and policy flowed with the tide.

As an artifact of its moment, this view sits at the confluence of art, intelligence, and imperial rivalry. Popple’s wider mapping of North America responded to urgent boundary disputes, and editions like this one found renewed relevance as the War of Jenkins’ Ear sharpened European attention on colonial strongholds. By refining Franquelin’s governmental drawing through the lens of Amsterdam’s premier publishers, the plate offers both an elegant urban likeness and a distilled brief on defenses, institutions, and access. The keyed ensemble of fortifications and great houses is more than ornament: it is a carefully curated index of what mattered in Quebec—an enduring, eloquent city map that still reads as strategy set to copper.

Streets and roads on this map

• No specific streets or roads are labelled on this map.

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Labelled buildings:
• A. The Fort
• B. The Ravelins
• C. The Platform
• D. The Jesuits
• E. The Cathedral
• F. The Seminary
• G. The Hotel Dieu
• H. The Bishop's House
• I. The Redoubt
• K. The Hospital
• Ships: Multiple ships are depicted on the St. Lawrence River.

Historical and design context

• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by Covens & Mortier, based on original work by Henry Popple.
• Date of Creation: 1740
• A fine example of Covens and Mortier's edition of Popple's view of Quebec City.
• The map depicts the city from across the St. Lawrence River, featuring ten early buildings.
• High churches and buildings are prominently illustrated.
• Ships sailing the river are depicted with flags bearing the Fleur de Lys.
• This view derives from Franquelin’s 1688 drawing of the city.
• Urban design and architecture of 18th-century Quebec.
• Naval activity in the St. Lawrence River.
• The depiction of significant buildings highlights the city’s importance during the colonial period.
• City birds-eye view pictorial map style.
• Ornate illustrations of buildings and landscapes, capturing the essence of the era.
• Part of Popple's broader cartographic work on North America, driven by increased need for detailed maps due to colonial boundary disputes in the early 18th century.
• Saw renewed interest during conflicts like the War of Jenkins' Ear, highlighting its relevance in historical documentation and cartography.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

This map is wider than most maps, which would make it a perfect statement piece above a mantelpiece, sofa or desk.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.

We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.

Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.

Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.

All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.

If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.