Herpetologische Aspekte in Werk und Nachlass von J.W.T.L. v. Blandowski (1822 – 1878), einem Pionier der naturkundlichen Erforschung Australiens

The present contribution deals for the first time with the problem of authenticity and authorship of herpetological drawings by Wilhelm von Blandowski which are stored in the Historical Picture and Correspondence Collection of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. The bundle of documents consists of more than 50 sheets of paper. It is part of the material brought back from Australia by Blandowski and belongs to his legacy. The drawings and watercolors with turtles, frogs, lizards and snakes are among the earliest figures of southeast Australian herpetological species. They were created by several persons, among them the famous animal illustrators Gerhard Krefft and Arthur Bartholomew. The drawings offer a unique view into the history of Australian herpetology in the middle of the nineteenth century where Blandowski was an important part of.