obscure publication

[JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE]

Does anyone know of a description of a new taxon (recognized
as the original place of publication) in a book or
periodical or other work NOT contained in a library somewhere?

Let me explain why I ask. I published in Taxon a proposal
to ammend the ICBN. Yesterday I received from the editors
a copy of the synopsis of proposals published in Taxon and
due to be submitted for a vote to the IAPT. These contain comments
from rappoteurs; it is a pity that the authors of the
proposals are not allowed to offer rebuttals.
   My proposal concerns Article 9.16:

"Publication is effected ... by the distribution of printed
matter .. to the general public or at least to botanical
institutions with libraries accessible to botanists
generally."

My complaint about this is the phrase "to the gerenal
public." Distribution to the general public could take
many forms not acceptable to most botanists: passing
out leaflets at a rock concert, dropping flyers from
airplanes, buying a classified ad in some local
advertizing rag (let's say, hypothetically, the Dandy
Dime in Tucson). In the case of the Dandy Dime, not even the
local libraries in Tucson contain back copies.
   I proposed eliminating the "general
public" clause and mandating that if the publication
is not contained in some library someplace, it
does not count as effective publication. The
rappoteurs complained about the retroactivity of the
proposal, saying that it might create "unforseen and
unforseeable changes." I had not thought about the
retroactivity of my proposal, but I suppose they
are correct that it would be retroactive. Nevertheless,
I do not think this is a problem. I maintain that
very nearly 100% if not 100% of the names currently
recognized as validly published have their original sources
of publication preserved in some library somewhere.
In the event that, for example, someone distributed ephemeral
fliers at a rock concert in 1854 (perhaps the
Grateful Dead when they were still alive), and no
copies were preserved in a library, we today
quite simply do not know about them. Hence they
are not a problem.

--
Dr. Joseph E. Laferriere
who believes very strongly that one should
not have opinions.