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History of the Skeletons - Chabarovsk
So, at the end of the 19th century there were two skeletons in the Grodekov museum of Khabarovsk, said to be almost complete.

Foto von 1900
One of the Khabarovsk skeletons, photographed in 1900
(from the museum archives)

One of it should be sold as lucratively as possible, in order to receive means for the development of the museum. First negotiations with the French Ambassador in San Francisco, deLalande, (supposedly for the museum in Paris), brought no conclusion, therefore the mining engineer Konstantin Evgeneevic Pfaffius, a German in Russian services, was appointed 1899 to visit the major European museums and negotiate a sale.
Here a translated condensed version of his report*)from Sysoeva, 2001:

"I visited Vienna, Budapest, Milan, Paris and Munich. The Kustos of the museum in Vienna, Steindachner already possessed a very beautiful skeleton, larger than ours, which Professor Dybowski had donated; the Emperor would not approve the purchase of a further specimen.
Professor l. Megeli of the museum Budapest was very interested in a purchase, but only, when after two years time the museum buildings had been extended.
The museum in Milan was small and poor, negotiations did not take place, as I [Pfaffius] do not speak Italian.
I was surprised that Munich, the richest museum of them all, owned only one skull. Director Dr. R. Gertwig was interested, however insisted in a definite offer.
Professor Lampert of the royal scientific cabinet in Stuttgart also appeared to be a serious possible buyer.
Finally Director G. Periye [?] of the museum in Paris (that already owned one skeleton) offered to buy the specimen for 5000 francs; 2500 payable immediately, 2500 upon delivery to the commander of a French military vessel. On 3rd June 1903 the skeleton was handed over in Yokohama."

End of Pfaffius' report.




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