WINTER1994 ISSUE No. 59 ·Journal of the International Map Collectors Society WINTER 1994 ISSUE No. 59 . CONTENTS From the Chainnan 's Desk 4 A Diary of IMCoS in Antwerp 30 The Development of Cartography in Our Travel Grant Winner writes 37 the Low Countries 6 16th Century Tempests and the Brave A Unique Collection of Feudal Maps: the NewWorld 39 Duchy of Aarschot 10 'Maps & Society' W arburg Lectures 40 The Business Relationship between International News & Events 41 Christopher Plantin and Mercator 17 Letter to the Editor 43 How did Gerard Mercator design his UK News & Events 45 projection? 25 Mapping Mt Everest 48 Cover Map: Detail from Gerard Mercator's map ofFlandria bound in Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1570. Copy and other material for our next issue (Spring) should be submitted by 31 January 1995. All items for editorial use should be sent to The Editor, Susan Gale, 14 Oakford Road, London NW5 1AH. Tel: 071-267 4346. FAX: 071-267., 4356 . Advertising copy, artwork, etc, should be sent to the Advertising Manager, Warwick Leadlay Gallery, 5 Nelson Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9JB. Tel: 081-858 0317. FAX: 081-853 1773 Gen. Secretary: W.H.S. Pearce, 29 Mount Ephraim Road, Streatham, London SW16 lNQ. Tel: 081-769 5041. FAX: 081-677 5417 Treasurer: Dr Cyrus Ala'i, 1 Golders Park Close, West Heath Avenue, London NW11 7QR. Membership Secretary: Jermy Harvey, 27 Landford Road, Putney, London SW15 1AQ. Tel: (081) 789 7358 Publicity OjflCer: Y asha Beresiner, 43 Templars Crescent, London N3 3QR. Tel: 081-349 2207. FAX: 081-346-9539 Int. Development Officer: Caroline Batchelor, Pikes, The Ridgeway, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 OLG. Tel: 0372-843 425 Int. Secretary: Dr Robert Clancy, 11 High Street, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia. Fax: 61-49 252 169 ©All signed articles are the copyright of the author, and must not be reproduced without the written consent of the author. Whilst every care is taken in compiling this journal the Society cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information included herein. 3 From the Chairman's Desk Members who were not able to travel to have a 'Bargain' section, where no map Antwerp last month may read in this issue will cost more than a nominal amount. about the very successful and enjoyable The stand will be run by IMCoS volun­ symposium that was held to celebrate the teers, but all proceeds will be put into life of Gerard Mercator who died four hun­ widening the advertising for the following dred years ago. The five papers presented at year's Map Fair. While letters to this ef­ the symposium were a model of how such fect are being sent to stall holders, mem­ things should be done: excellent subject bers are requested to get in touch with the matter, precise timing, all slides carefully Map Fair Organiser, Roger Brown at 160 selected and the right way up, and all perti­ Crowndale Road, Borehamwood, Herts nent to the theme. I congratulate not only the WD6 4QB, if they have maps which they speakers, but also the organisers and the would be willing to donate. We are also symposium chairman. Four of the papers increasing the budget for the Fair, hoping are published here, along with the enter­ to attract more and younger collectors. taining presentation by Professor Lat:re at While at Antwerp our new Interna­ the opening of the map fair; I hope to tional Secretary Robert Clancy organised publish the fifth in the next issue. a meeting ofall participating International The large number of participants, Representatives. This was well attended, over a hundred and flfty including accom­ and should lead both to more local activ­ panying persons, is in sharp contrast to the ity, as well as more interaction between declining numbers at our summer sympo­ members in distant countries. If you live sia in Britain. As an experiment, we will in a country that is not represented and have this year a mini-symposium: a talk, would like to volunteer to act as a Repre­ (naturally on maps) before the Annual sentative, please get in touch with either Dinner and the presentation of the Robert Clancy or myself. Let me take this IM:CoS-RV Tooley Award, on the eve­ opportunity to welcome Martine de Cha­ ning before the Map Fair. I do hope that a rnel who has agreed to represent us in large number of members will be able to Mexico. She is well known to many of us attend After many years we are returning as a regular participant in IMCoS acti­ to the Royal Over-Seas League, StJames, vities. for the Dinner, as it has been refurbished With this Journal, but only to mem­ and the location is so central. bers in UK because of the cost of postage, Our Map Fair, on the other hand, con­ goes a letter asking for volWiteers (IMCoS tinues to grow both in size and in import­ after all runs on voluntary work!) to re­ ance each year. Here again, however, we view books that are sent by publishers, are planning to experiment. We are re­ and which then go into the IMCoS library. questing dealers as well as members to It is essential that we build up a wider donate the sort of maps that might appeal panel of reviewers, to do justice to the to a beginner collector, so that we can books that are sent to us. So I hope for a 4 very high response to my appeal. issues of the Journal. If enough items are I would also like to hear in advance listed, they might in addition form a small about map activities that are planned in all separate publication which could then be parts of the world, so that other members sent to all members, and updated as re­ may know about them in time to plan a quired. visit By chance the other day, I saw on I have in the meantime loaded myself Newbury station a notice about an exhibi­ with more work, promising to produce an tion 'Maps: An unfolding local history', Index of articles that have appeared in the that was being held from 1.10.94 to first sixty issues of the IM:CoS Journal. 12.11.94. Too late to inform those inter­ This will be sent out with No. 60, on 1st ested in maps of Berkshire who may not March 1995. To ensure that your name have heard about what was probably a remains on our mailing list, please check very good, local, collection, and might the date to which your membership is have contained some little known maps. valid. This is given, along with your mem­ Another idea for which I would like bership number, on the top line of the label to request help from IMCoS members in containing your address on the envelope. all countries occurred to me while return­ Each quarter I receive back some half ing from Antwerp. Scattered in many of dozen copies of the journal that have not the lesser known collections are copies of been delivered by the postman, because maps of which perhaps only one or two the addressee has moved and failed to let examples have survived. I have realised us know the new address. If one of them myself how important it is to study the was for you, you are not likely to read this, original, particularly of the larger maps. as your copy has gone into my cupboard Reproductions, however well produced, of unwanted items. But if you are reading somehow never permit observation of all this now, make sure it doesn't happen to the text, the map language, even the out­ your copy whenever you change your lines. This was particularly noticeable house or office. Also, please send your when we had the opportunity to see the subscription well in time if you choose to Juan de la Cosa map in Madrid a couple pay annually, or if your three or ten year of years ago. If IMCoS could produce a subscription is finishing in December. list of such maps and where they are held, Only by keeping our administrative costs it would be easier for members to see to the minimum can we maintain the very them. Often we may be travelling through low current subscription rates. a town and be unaware that stored in the Suggestions for the IMCoS-RV basement of a museum is the single extant Tooley award for 1995 may be sent direct copy of an important map, or perhaps it is to me this year for forwarding to the even on permanent exhibition, but not awards committee. Full details of the widely publicised. award and previous winners are in earlier If members would keep sending me issues. Nominations should be received information on such maps, let us say, before the end of March. where no more than three copies are Hope to see you all in the summer in known, it could be included in future London, and in San Francisco in October. 5 The Development of Cartography in.the Low Countries This paper is an introduction to the exhibi­ Charles V by Jacob van Deventer. Charles tion current! y being held at Louvain on the of Hapsburg was born in the Netherlands development of Netherlands mapping. in Gent and was particularly interested in Because the systems of cartography that his Burgundian heritage. Deventer's sur­ were developed here had a decisive im­ vey is internationally recognised as being pact on European cartography in general, a model for mapmaking in Europe, and in the exhibition also reveals much that is the exhibition are Italian copies of his relevant to the early cartography of other maps engraved either in Venice or in countries.