Nota Lepi. 43 2020: 173-179 | DOI 10.3897/n1.43.48374 Short Communication

Considerations on the historic context surrounding the publications
attributed to Denis & Schiffermiiller

BALAZS TOTH!, GERGELY KATONA!, ZSOLT BALINT!
9 by)

1 Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest VIII, Baross utca 13, H— 1088, Hungary;
toth.balazs@nhmus.hu; katona. gergely@nhmus.hu; balint.zsolt@nhmus.hu

http://zoobank. org/8A BF DF'D8-15FE-4B5E-B125-67C7B5B00066

Received 11 November 2019; accepted 25 March 2020; published: 31 July 2020
Subject Editor: Alberto Zilli.

Abstract. In the second half of the 18" century, the influential Jesuit college named Theresianum ran an
educational and scientific project for working systematically on the Lepidoptera occurring in the vicinity
of Vienna, Austria. The teachers of the college prepared a document under the title “Anktindung eines
systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend”, with the aim of informing the
ecclesiastical and secular authorities about the goal of the enterprise. On the board of the Theresianum there
were several Jesuits, who later were considered authorities concerning Lepidoptera, namely: Michael Denis
SJ, Sigismund Hohenwart SJ, Ludwig Mitterpacher SJ, Matthias Piller SJ, and Ignaz Schiffermiiller SJ. They
were acknowledged by Lepidoptera patronyms in the “Ankiindung”, which suggests that they may have
been involved in this project. This “Anktindung” was mentioned in the book “Versuch eines Farbensystems”
in 1771, which was authored by Ignaz Schiffermtller. Also from this book, it can be postulated that Ignaz
Schiffermtiller regarded himself as a responsible author or editor of the “Anktindung”. Printing of the
“Anktindung” was delayed for unspecified reasons, the dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1773 may have
been one of them. Subsequently, Ignaz Schiffermtller managed to circulate a limited number of copies of the
“Anktindung” in 1775, and then the same document appeared before a wider audience under the new title
“Systematisches Verzeichniss der Schmetterlinge der Wienergegend” in 1776. Both these publications were
at the time and ever since attributed to Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermtller, because some subsequent
citations considered these two Jesuits as the principal authors.

Introduction

Kudrna and Belicek (2005) dedicated a long monograph to the question concerning the authorship
of the books with the titles “Anktindung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der
Wienergegend” ([Denis & Schiffermtiller] 1775) and “Systematisches Verzeichniss der Schmetter-
linge der Wienergegend” ([Denis & Schiffermtller] 1776). They concluded that the sole respon-
sible author was Ignaz Schiffermtiller (1727—1806), a priest of the Society of Jesus (SJ) affiliated
to the Theresianum, one of the most influential schools of Imperial Austria in those times. In a
response, Sattler and Tremewan (2009) argued that in the interest of historical accuracy, the work
should be attributed to Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermtller, two Jesuits of the Theresianum, in
accordance with Opinion 516 of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (Hem-
ming 1958). A later contribution by Kudrna (2015) repeats the conclusions of the monograph, and
presents some new arguments supporting of his own opinion.

174 TOTH et al.: Considerations on the publications attributed to Denis & Schiffermiller

Reading the prefaces (“An den Leser’’) of the publications attributed to Denis and Schiffermuller
(1775, 1776), we had the impression that the work on the Lepidoptera in the vicinity of Vienna
should have been a large educational and scientific project of the Theresianum, which involved
several of the Jesuit teachers. By contemporary sources besides Schiffermuller, only Michael Den-
is (1729-1800) was named. Although Denis catalogued the “Systematisches Verzeichniss” under
the authorship of “Schiffermtller & Denis” (see Sattler and Tremewan 2009), he never published
anything else on entomology or natural history, but was a well-known person in literary circles.

From the distance of almost two and a half centuries, it is difficult to reconstruct the whole
list of contributors, but there are some names which can be associated with the project of the
Theresianum with certainty. The aim of the present paper is to present some considerations about
who participated in the Lepidoptera project of the Theresianum, to whom the documents of the
“Ankindung” and the “Systematisches Verzeichniss” can be attributed and when these documents
were available.

Considerations
Authority, modesty

In the practice of the contemporary Jesuits, anonymity was unusual or even impossible. The person
who entered into the society had to take full responsibility for his own activities, but always under
the strictest supervision of his superior (cf. Eaglestone and Munitiz 2004). Consequently, works
were always presented to lower or higher ecclesiastical boards for checking the content of a manu-
script (Udias 2015). This is testified by the following works of Jesuits, cited as examples: “Insecta
Musei Graecensis” (Graz 1761, authored by Nicolaus Poda SJ), “Versuch eines Farbensystems”
(Wien 1771, authored by Ignaz Schiffermuller SJ), “Die Lieder Sineds des Barden” (Wien 1772,
authored by Michael Denis SJ). Therefore it 1s certain that Ignaz Schiffermtiller would have been
credited as the sole author of the “Anktindung” and that would have been put on the title page
without question, as it occurred for his “Versuch”.

When a team of Jesuits produced a book, that was also indicated. Although it was not a general but
a rare practice, there were several such cases, for example the book published in 1773 with the title
“Entwurf der oekonomischen Kenntnisse, welche in dem kaiserlichen koniglichen Theresianum der
adelichen Jugend beygebracht werden’. However, the responsibility in these cases was not anonymous,
as the institute involved where Jesuits worked had to be named. In the aforementioned case, and also
in the case of the “Anktindung”, that was the Theresianum. The head of that Institute during the times
when Schiffermtller worked was: Johann Heinrich von Kerens SJ for the period 1760-1769, and
Theodor Kravina von Cronstein SJ from 1770 to the year of the Jesuit order’s dissolution (1773). The
“Entwurf” is catalogued under the name of Cronstein in the public library of the city Vienna (www.
digital. wienbibliothek.at). Hence, theoretically, the responsible person of the “Anktindung” would
have been Cronstein, who was an important person in education and science (cf. Juzni¢é 2017).

Moreover, whenever there was a close collaboration between two authors, that was also clearly
indicated. For example in the book of Piller and Mitterpacher (1783), where many Lepidoptera
species were described as new. Because Piller was senior to Mitterpacher, that was expressed also
in the authorship, as modesty and respect played a key role in the Society of Jesus; the senior Piller
was placed first. And this was the case when Denis himself catalogued the “Ankitindung” (see Sattler
and Tremewan 2009). In his autobiography, Schiffermtiller expressed the close relationship and

Nota Lepi. 43: 173-179 175

collaboration between Denis and himself (Promitzer 1990; Sattler and Tremewan 2009), but this was
never expressed publicly. However, we know that it was stressed in the letter he addressed to Linnaeus
(cf. Sattler 1970), and probably he wrote a similar letter to the editor of the Jenaische Zeitungen von
Gelehrten Sachen, asking the editor for a review of the “Anktindung” (cf. Sattler 1970).

Teamwork

In the Theresianum, where Ignaz Schiffermtller worked and managed the project on Lepidoptera
until the dissolution and beyond, several Jesuits were involved in teaching natural history disci-
plines or served as the prefect. Therefore, it is probable that they also participated in the prepa-
ration of the book. Three Jesuits are worth mentioning: Sigismund Hohenwart (1730-1820),
Matthias Piller (1733-1788) and Ludwig Mitterpacher (1734—1814). Later, all of them published
important items on entomology and natural history, for example: “Iter per Poseganam Sclavo-
niae Provinciam” (1783) and “Botanischen Reisen” (1791); and also created important natural
history collections.

Sattler and Tremewan (2009) argue that the patronyms Tinea denisella and T: schiffermillerella
[sic] reflect the co-authorship of Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermiuller. In the body of the main
text, we find many other patronyms, including Jortrix pilleriana (p. 126), T: hohenwartiana and
T. mitterbacheriana [sic] (both on p. 129). This suggests that these Jesuits also had a role in the
project that resulted in the manuscript. Having this knowledge, we can exclude with high cer-
tainty, that the sole author of the “Anktindung” 1s Ignaz Schiffermuller. It is stmilarly highly im-
probable that the work is the result of the close collaboration between Denis and Schiffermiller,
because if this was the case, the book would have appeared under their names as “Schiffermuller
& Denis” (as happened for Piller and Mitterpacher 1783). Evidence indicates that working on
Lepidoptera was indeed an enterprise of the whole Theresianum and many of the Jesuits were
involved and participated. That is why it 1s indicated on the title page “herausgegeben von ein-
igen Lehrer am k. k. Theresianum” (= published by some teachers of the I. [= Imperial] and R.
[Royal] Theresianum).

Responsibility

The driving force of the project in the college was certainly Schiffermtller, as shown by the fact
that he took responsibility of the collection assembled in the Theresianum, which remained under
his supervision until the very end of his life. The project responsibility is also manifested by the
letter of Schiffermuller addressed to Carolus Linnaeus in 1775 (facsimile and translation provided
by Sattler 1970). In this letter he expresses a high appreciation of his ‘amici’(evidently his Jesuit
brothers) who helped in the project, but only Denis was named. Anyway, it is obvious that the
“Anktindung” is the result of many people, not just of two. But in that letter, there is a reference
to Schiffermtller’s own book “Farbensystem” (Schiffermtller 1771; reviewed in detail by “D”
(Anon.) 1771). Reading the relevant part of the “Farbensystem”, it can be understood that Schiffer-
miller considered himself as the responsible author. Although Schiffermuller used the plural form,
that was the style in those times even in the case of a sole authorship (see Fig. 1).

Publication date, availability

On the basis of what was written in the “Versuch”, it is possible to suppose that at least one part
of the manuscript of the “Anktndung” was ready for publication in 1771. It seems that none

176 TOTH et al.: Considerations on the publications attributed to Denis & Schiffermiller

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Figure 1. Page 1 of the “Versuch eines Farbensystems” (Schiffermiller, 1771; with texts in red frames indi-
cating authorship (top) and testifying the availability of the book “Anktindung” ([Denis and Schiffermuller],
1775). The text in the top frame: “Wir haben schon anderswo (*) erklaret...”» = We have already explained
elsewhere (*)... The second sentence of the text in the lower frame: “Man behalt wegen der Einformigkeit mit
jenem Werke auch die Art in der mehrern Zahl zu schreiben bey.” = We retain for the sake of uniformity with
that work the manner of writing in the plural.

Nota Lepi. 43: 173-179 177

of the scholars involved in the identification of the authorship and the publication date of the
“Anktndung” or the “Systematisches Verzeichniss” had the opportunity to read the book “Ver-
such eines Farbensystems” or simply its importance had been overlooked. This latter book is
authored by Ignaz Schiffermiuller, and it is not an anonymous publication as indicated by Kudrna
(2015). This has been printed at least twice: (1) the copy kept in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
(Munich, Germany) bears the date 1771; and (2) the copy available electronically via open-
library.org bears the date 1772.

Schiffermtiller must have considered the “Anktindung” as published or it was already in the
status of a clear manuscript ready to be submitted to the printer in 1771. This is suggested by the
closing inscription “Geschrieben am k. k. Theresiano den 16. Marzen 1771” of the part “An den
Leser” indicates on the page 4. But there is no evidence supporting this scenario. A more plausible
explanation is that the first part of the “Anktindung” indeed existed as a finished manuscript ready
for submission to the printer. That is why Schiffermtller is able to cite entries of the “Anktndung”
in 1771 as “V. Abschn. 3. un 4 §.” but without pagination (pp 37—39 in the “Anktindung’’). These
parts discussed Lepidoptera wing colouration in the “Anktindung”, but the “Versuch” was not men-
tioned. It is worth remarking that Schiffermuller used the same nomenclature of colours that he had
in the “Versuch”, which underlines that the parts of the “Anktindung” dealing with wing colours
had been completed with certainty.

Hitherto, there is no copy known to be extant of the “Anktindung” with the publication year
1771 or 1772. Most probably, one does not exist. The manuscript could have been printed only
after 1773, as the content of the “Nachtrag” suggests. The very rare print of 1775 has a wood
block title page. The reprints dated 1776 show a lithographed title page with a different carving
and different titles (cf. [Denis & Schiffermuller] 1775 and 1776; Sattler 1970; Kudrna and Belicek
2005). It is certain that the inner pages of these works were printed in the same run, but there 1s
no evidence that any of them was published before 1775, especially if we take as evidence that on
page 235, a book published in 1773 is referred to (Gleditsch 1773).

Closing remarks

Probably the following remarks reflect the real history of the “Anktindung” and the “System-
atisches Verzeichniss”: Some of the first parts (““Abtheilungen”’) of the “Ankiindung” had already
been prepared for print in 1771, or might even have been printed. Because of unknown reasons, but
possibly due to the dissolution of the Society of Jesus in 1773, the printing could not be complet-
ed. Two years after the dissolution, Schiffermtller was able to invest more energy in the project,
supplement it and finally put the manuscript in print. He was the one who sent copies to colleagues
and friends (amongst them was Linnaeus), with a title page indicating the year of issue as 1775.
Later it became evident to him that the project “Systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen
der Wienergegend” in the Theresianum could not be continued.

Nevertheless, the work “Systematisches Verzeichniss” was born. Therefore the title, the title
page and the frontispieces were all changed. This 1776 print became distributed by contemporary
booksellers, reviewed by various authors (see Sattler and Tremewan 2009), and served as the re-
print edition issued by Johann IIliger in 1801.

The “early Ankindung” that might have been printed with the publication date 31‘t December,
1771, is not extant on the basis of available evidence. What we know is that the “Anktindung”
was published sometime before the date 11 September 1775, with the “Nachtrag”, as the letter

178 TOTH et al.: Considerations on the publications attributed to Denis & Schiffermiller

of Schiffermtller addressed to Linnaeus indicates. This has no influence on Opinion 516 of the
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, which regulates the publication dates of
various classical works of lepidopterology. Therefore, all these considerations that we presented
above have historical interest only, without any influence concerning nomenclatural issues. Read-
ing the preface of the “Anktindung” (and the “Systematisches Verzeichniss’), there is no question
that the book was produced by a team of Jesuit teachers, and was not authored by a sole person or
by two Jesuits and was based on the collections of many. This is supported by the evidence offered
via the numerous patronyms proposed in the book and references to collections of various teachers
and students. The most remarkable one was Mathias Piller SJ (1733-1788), whose collection was
referred many times and got also a patronym in “Jortrix pilleriana’.

The authorship of the “Anktindung” Is not a crucial question, but the acceptance of Schiffermuller
as the responsible editor would be more accurate, reflecting the real history of this influential docu-
ment of lepidopterology. The autobiographies and biographies of Schiffermiller and of Denis have
never been examined by a lepidopterist (cf. Hofmann-Wellenhof 1881; Speta 2003), yet they may
provide detail on the question of contributors to the Anktindung and Systematisches Verzeichniss.

Acknowledgements

The director Dr Béla Mihalik and the archivist Mr Daniel Siptar (Archive Gyorgy Pray, Society of Jesus in
Hungary) helped with several questions. Hearty thanks are due to them. One of the many drafts of the present
paper was commented on by the following lepidopterist colleagues: Adam Kiss (Hungary), John Heppner
(USA), Otakar Kudrna (Germany), Gerardo Lamas (Peru), Tomasz Pyrez (Poland), Klaus Sattler and Alberto
Zilli (United Kingdom). We highly appreciate their efforts. We are grateful to David Lees (London) for check-
ing the manuscript. Finally, Steve Fratello (USA) helped improve the English for this essay; a most grateful
thank you also to him.

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