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

Tue Jul 9 12:08:28 EDT 2013

Hi Neil,

I am sceptical with the intention to replace lost neotypes with newly 
collected (& prepared) material "just" because types have been lost; at 
least the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is clearly 
excluding this sort of replacement:

"75.2. Circumstances excluded. A neotype is not to be designated as an 
end in itself, or as a matter of curatorial routine, and any such 
neotype designation is invalid."
See also: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/ -> Article 75

That the author considers the name bearing type to be lost is _one_ 
prerequisite among several conditions for a valid neotype designation 
(compare 75.3.4.) but not considered to be a sufficient reason taken alone.

So yes, to points 1-3 (and 5, which is hard to estimate - maybe if 
comparing auctions of historic specimens ?!?), but a clear NO to your 
point 4 (at least form a zoological perspective)
;-)

All the best
Dirk

Am 09.07.2013 17:30, schrieb Neil Clark:
> 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
>> Tel: +44(0)141 330 4561
>> Website: 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
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
>> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>
>
> -- 
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
>
> Postanschrift:
>
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Labor
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
>
> Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/
>
> ---------
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
>
> postal address:
>
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
>
> Visit our section at:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
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-- 
Dirk Neumann

Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de

Postanschrift:

Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
Zoologische Staatssammlung München
Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Labor
Münchhausenstr. 21
81247 München

Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/

---------

Dirk Neumann

Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de

postal address:

Bavarian Natural History Collections
The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab
Muenchhausenstr. 21
81247 Munich (Germany)

Visit our section at:
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/

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