Max Korb (1851-1933) was a German naturalist from Munich who collected mostly Lepidoptera and Coleoptera through Europe, the Middle East and North Africa but also elsewhere. However he centred much of his research in Spain and provided specimens to many contemporary naturalists who eventually described many taxa upon his findings, he never published anything himself but a comprehensive book on Central European butterflies.
A summary of eulogies on his life and work can be seen here (in German):
https://www.zobodat.at/personen.php?id=9863&bio=full
Nowhere is there any information available of the whereabouts of his collection, if there is actually one and hence my question. Most likely country would be Germany but other surrounding countries are a possibility.
Thanks for any help on this.
One of the links in your attached website mentions that he was awarded for his contributions to the Munich State Collection, with the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (in Munich) being the second largest Coleoptera-collection in Germany. This is likely where much of his collections ended up.
https://www.zsm.mwn.de/sektion/coleoptera-home/?lang=en
that's brilliant! Thanks Carl, so I suppose the Lepidoptera collection might be there too. I will ask around, thanks!
Dear Eduardo and Carl,
I am not sure if this is a relevant piece of information, but Max Korb apparently purchased the large private Lepidoptera collection of the Austrian-Hungarian zoologist and businessman Ottokar Zdenko Bohatsch (1843-1912). Bohatsch's collection eventually seems to have ended up in Berlin and Munich, being divided between the Museum of Natural History (Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin) and the Bavarian State Collection for Zoology. So those speciemen that Max Korb collected himself, are likely to have ended up in either or both of these places, too.
Best,
Julius
Dear Julius, this is really detective work and thank you very much for the help! Guess these two institutions may hold the key to solve this: either one of them or both!
Dear Eduardo,
thanks. I quite enjoy detective work - especially when relating to some worthwile aspect of the history of science :-) Do let me know should you need help with German-language sources. I'd be glad to assist.
Best wishes from Berlin,
Julius
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