[Nhcoll-l] Valuation of holotypes, syntypes and figured specimens

Tue Jul 9 11:30:37 EDT 2013

Thanks Dirk,

I have to say that the specimens will not be transported by a courier, but by hand by the researcher. The valuation, I am told by our collections manager, should cover all the following aspects of replacement in the calculation:

1. the field work
2. the research time to identify comparable material
3. the manufacture of enough thin sections to provide comparable material
4. the time to write papers explaining why a neotype is to be selected from the new material collected
5. a historical premium for the collection which was made by a well known collector of such material in the early 20th century

Neil

________________________________
From: Dirk Neumann [mailto:Dirk.Neumann at zsm.mwn.de]
Sent: 09 July 2013 15:59
To: Neil Clark; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Valuation of holotypes, syntypes and figured specimens

Hi Neil,

this is a tricky question - if you would only like to ensure specimens itself (against any potential damages caused by the borrower), you could put any value to the complete loan or single specimens you would consider sufficient, e.g. travel costs that would be needed to re-collect all these specimens at the same localities - having in mind that you cannot replace these types anyway if they are returned damaged or are lost.

For putting a insurance to a shipment (not to the specimens itself), most shipments channelled via national or private postal carriers have a free of charge insurance that covers damages or losses up to 500 EUR. However, if you tick the box or fill in a even higher insurance value, have in mind that the high value of the consignment will cause turnover tax upon import in the country of destination (if the consignee is outside of the European Community). Up to 50 EUR, most imports are either not charged or exempt from turnover tax.

A high insurance value may not only potentially delay your shipment, it might also call customs to inspect it (which may result in damage to the specimens because both, postal carrier staff opening parcels and customs officers during inspection are well- renowned for their rough handling). Frankly, for sending types abroad, I would always avoid to put any insurance on a shipment but would use well known companies like FedEx or UPS etc. which offer express delivery (2-3 days) to make sure that specimens arrive in due time and that I / my institute will be notified immediately in case of any problem. Also, this option allows on-line tracking of parcels (impossible with national postal carriers if consignments are forwarded over international borders)

Hope this offers you some guidance ...

All the best
Dirk

Am 09.07.2013 16:28, schrieb Neil Clark:
Has anyone had any experience of putting insurance valuations on type and figured specimens for loans? I have a particular collection that I have had a request for a loan of, but I have been told that I will need to put a valuation on each specimen. There are about 100 specimens that are mostly syntypes (I can't tell which are the holotypes as the original describer in the early 1900s did not specify a holotype and no-one has looked at them since to designate a lectotype). The specimens were the only ones used in the original descriptions of each species, so I am assuming that they are at least syntypes? I can't send them out until an insurance valuation can be given, and I don't want to hold up the research. Any thoughts?

Neil

Dr Neil D. L. Clark
Curator

The Hunterian
University of Glasgow
Gilbert Scott Building
Glasgow G12 8QQ

E-mail: Neil.Clark at glasgow.ac.uk<mailto:Neil.Clark at glasgow.ac.uk>
Tel: +44(0)141 330 4561
Website: www.glasgow.ac.uk/hunterian<http://www.glasgow.ac.uk/hunterian>

Current Exhibition
This Unrivalled Collection: The Hunterian's first catalogue - 15 March 2013 - 11 August 2013
Hagar and the Angel - unitil 25 August 2013

The Entire Collection cared for by The Hunterian is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland
University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

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