Molluscs from the collection of Hermann v. Maltzan

Hermann Freiherr von Maltzan (1843-1891), youngest son of the district administrator Nicolaus Friedrich Rudolf von Maltzan, was not only musically talented but was also interested in the flora and fauna of his home region of Mecklenburg. He soon discovered his particular interest in “Conchylien” (old description for snails and shells). He started to build up a collection with items from around the world that, in terms of its scope and value, was soon comparable with that in the British Natural History Museum.

In 1866 he founded the “Maltzan Natural History Museum for Mecklenburg” in Waren. It was the first museum of its type in the state that was open to both nature enthusiasts and natural scientists. The Mecklenburg collections of Hermann von Maltzan formed the basis for the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state natural history collections in the Müritzeum.