Bachem - The principle: a printed book per shelf each year
The valuable library of the Bachem couple contains publications from the 15th to 20th centuries from all over Europe. Georg Andreas Bachem followed the principle of owning (at least) one book from each year. Over decades a library has been established with a focus on "schöne und seltene Bücher" (beautiful and rare books) (G.A. Bachem). Based on the grandfather's books, gifts from the librarian of Mariawald Abbey, who thus saved the books from Gestapo access in 1941, brought old books into the small collection. Henceforth, interest in Bachem's "alten Druck" (old printing) determined his passion for collecting. It is Gerlinde Bachem's gratitude that after the death of her husband, she decided to hand over the library of the married couple to UCL Cologne. The volumes have been placed under the shelfmark "BACH".
Georg Andreas Bachem (1922-2010)
A 2005 article in the Kölnische Rundschau described the linguistic-historical researcher, lyrical author and passionate collector as a "Wissenschaftler im Nebenberuf" (scientist as a sideline). The studied structural engineer used his studies of the Celtic, Basque and Gaelic languages for his artistic work. He wrote poems based on these linguistic forms. Many of Bachem's works, illustrated by his hand, are also available in German and English. Several volumes, bound in demanding bindings, were published by Bachem himself. Georg Andreas Bachem was also committed to the history of his homeland. The adjacent illustration is taken from a small commemorative publication of the Geschichtsverein Stadt Heimbach/Eifel e.V. (History Association of Heimbach/Eifel).
Biographical notes on Georg Andreas Bachem
Biographical notes on Georg Andreas Bachem
"Der Bibliophilie verdanke ich nicht die Lyrik, aber meine Lyrik verdankt in den späteren Dezennien einiges der Liebe zum Buch."
This is how G.A. Bachem describes in his 1986 volume "Nachgeburt" the crossing of his two passions. The self-published works can also be found in the collection. The Bachem Collection also includes his own illustrations, such as drawings and collages, research documents, genealogical and heraldic studies, newspaper clippings, correspondence and photographs. The preserved letters of Bachem's mother, who wrote to her son in the "Westwall combat zone" during the last months of the war, represent a special contemporary document.
A library is created ...
At the beginning the focus of the collector was generally on old books. Later Georg Andreas Bachem searched for rare and special works at national and international auctions. This is also the case with the title page of a so-called occasional publication shown above. It shows an extremely rare print, which could not be proven bibliographically so far. In-depth research into the history of the book leads us to expect further special features of the collection. Moreover, the works of Bachem's library are in a very good state of preservation. The cataloguing of the collection has not yet been completed. Books and other collection objects can be made available for research purposes in the Historical Collections Reading Room.
The author of the book, a German Frenchman, is Johann Christian Trömer from Dresden. His pseudonym is "Jean Chretien Toucement". The speciality of the author in his writings is a special mixture of the German and French language. The addressee of the present birthday address on 8 December 1741 was Maria Josepha (1699-1757) Archduchess of Austria and through her marriage Elector of Saxony and Queen of Poland.
