Joseph Schirò appointed chair of International Map Collectors’ Society
The Malta Map Society has hosted two editions of the IMCoS international symposium
Joseph Schirò, president and founder member of the Malta Map Society, was appointed chairperson of the International Map Collectors’ Society (IMCoS) during its annual general meeting held on June 6 at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The AGM coincided with the annual map fair held in the same venue.
IMCoS was formed in 1980 for map lovers to come together, learn about maps and exchange information. Its members hail from 41 different countries. The society publishes the quarterly IMCoS Map Journal, which has been issued throughout the life of the society under different editors.
The society also organises an international symposium in different countries every year, and Malta has hosted two very successful such meetings in 2011 and 2024.
On both occasions the Malta Map Society prepared two major exhibitions, one titled German Malta Maps in 2011, and the other British Maps of Malta in 2024. Maltapost had also issued a special cancellation stamp to use on the first day of the symposium.
Schirò with IMCoS’ youngest ever member, 14-year-old Finlay Wilks, at the Royal Geographical Society in London during its annual map fair.Schirò is also editor of the Malta Map Society Journal. He is the head emeritus of Heritage Malta’s Conservation and Restoration Division.
He was co-editor with Albert Ganado of the first festschrift in Malta, Liber Amicorum, in 1994; co-author of Andersen and Malta in 1991; Fine Bookbindings in 1999; German Malta Maps in 2011; The Brocktorff Mapmakers in 2012; Pre-Siege Maps of Malta 2nd century AD – 1564 in 2016; and British Maps of Malta in 2024; and author of Cartographia: Map Treasures of the National Library of Malta in 2024.
He edited the book The Island of Malta and the Order of St John by Grigory Krayevsky in 2017, in which was published the only Russian map of Malta known to exist.
He has written several articles on conservation and on cartography.
In May 2000, he received the award of Cavaliere Ufficiale dell’Ordine al Merito Melitense from the Grand Magistry of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Rome.
In 2024, the Malta Association of Professional Conservator-Restorers (MAPCo-Re) produced a festschrift in his honour titled Custos Divitiarum: Festschrift in honour of Joseph Schirò.