Brussels International
Map Collectors' Circle
On Saturday 12 October 2002, twelve members of the BIMCC were welcomed into the home of Mrs and Mr Dieter Bohrmann in Hasselt.
After introductions had been made, over coffee and cookies, D. Bohrmann explained how his passion for cartography had started when he was still in high-school, stemming naturally from his interest in history and geography; he had bought his first map of Antwerp, for 400 francs, when still a student in engineering. Forty years later, he has constituted one of the most complete private collections of atlases and maps of the Low Countries.
The centrepiece of the collection is undoubtedly the pair of globes made by Blaeu in 1667; theses globes, representing the terrestrial and the celestial spheres, were never restored but are still in excellent condition.
D. Bohrmann led the BIMCC group to his study to present his collection, which spans over five centuries.
It comprises several maps (atlases?) of the end of the 15th century, the oldest one being the Nurenberg Chronicle (of 1493), as well as all the major atlases of the 16th century by Mercator, Ortelius, Visser, Verbiest (?) and a number of remarkable books from the same period, e.g. Hema Frisius, Hugenberg's Itinerarium Belgicum (?) (of 1587). Among the works of the 17th century the most outstanding element of the collection is probably the complete set of twelve volumes of Blaeu's atlas most complete edition … D. Bohrmann pointed out some remarkable specimens of the 18th century, such as a map by Matthew Seuter displayed with its original pouch, in which a traveller could fold it to carry around. D. Bohrmann also highlighted the outstanding accomplishment by Vandermaelen, the Mercator of the 19th century, who he considers deserves more attention than he usually gets...
BIMCC members were given the opportunity to browse through the maps, atlases and other precious books of the collection.
Finally, the President of the BIMCC (and the Treasurer!) treated Mrs and Mr Bohrmann to lunch in a fine restaurant in downtown (?) Hasselt, as a token of the group's appreciation for their kind hospitality.
[...]
by Jean-Louis Renteux