The Authors
The main agents whcih operated on the collection were Aristocle Vatova, who planned the research activities, as well as collected and identified a number of specimens, and Victor Schiffner, who served as the identifier and reviewer of the material. The analysis of recognizable handwriting on the herbarium sheets, followed by a comparison with autograph documents shared by Aristocle Vatova's heirs or preserved at the Natural History Museum of Venice, confirmed their decisive role in the creation of the algal herbarium, while also clarifying their respective contributions.
At the same time, other important contributions emerged. In particular, Achille Forti identified a significant number of specimens, while Augusto Béguinot participated in field collection and played an important role in drafting the publication that gathered the research results. Finally, Michelangelo Minio organized the collection, which was donated by Vatova, after carefully comparing the published data with the herbarium samples.
An additional, anonymous contribution concerns the labels. This activity, probably carried out after Minio’s interventions, consisted of drafting new labels for many samples and overwriting the existing ones, often amending the information, especially when written in pencil.
At the same time, other important contributions emerged. In particular, Achille Forti identified a significant number of specimens, while Augusto Béguinot participated in field collection and played an important role in drafting the publication that gathered the research results. Finally, Michelangelo Minio organized the collection, which was donated by Vatova, after carefully comparing the published data with the herbarium samples.
An additional, anonymous contribution concerns the labels. This activity, probably carried out after Minio’s interventions, consisted of drafting new labels for many samples and overwriting the existing ones, often amending the information, especially when written in pencil.
Aristocle Vatova
He was born in 1897 in Koper, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He studied Philosophy at the Universities of Graz and Vienna, and later graduated in Natural Sciences from the University of Turin in 1919 with a thesis in botany. He immediately devoted himself to teaching various subjects, from geography to mathematics, at several schools in Istria.
More
Victor Schiffner
He was born in 1862 in Česká Lípa, which at the time was part of the Austrian Empire. He graduated from the University of Prague, where in 1888 he qualified to teach systematic botany; he also worked at the city's botanical garden as an assistant to Heinrich Moritz Willkomm.
More
