I know they weren't required in the early 1800s but obviously they are now so just wondering when this started being required and/or who coined holotype. Internet research yielded no good answers.
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1$\begingroup$ Presumably botany and zoology receive slightly different answers. I would assume the foundation dates of the bodies that publish the ICN and ICZN are possible answers. As I understand it, use of type specimens was widely practiced and recommended from even before Linaeus; maybe in the 19th century there was a desire to codify the practice. It's not clear if you are asking when codification started or when the practice itself started. $\endgroup$– kimchi loverCommented Mar 8 at 12:21
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$\begingroup$ either is fine, i'm just trying to get a better understanding of whether i can expect there to be a type specimen based on the year of publication $\endgroup$– imrobertCommented Mar 8 at 17:46
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1$\begingroup$ According to iapt-taxon.org/historic/index.htm , the first edition of the ICN dates to 1867. See also en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Botanical_Congress , which says this was at the 4th meeting of the IBC, in Paris in 1867. $\endgroup$– kimchi loverCommented Mar 8 at 18:31
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2 Answers
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As far as botany is concerned, the concept of type specimen and obligation of using one was introduced in the 1935 version of the code (the so-called Cambridge Rules).
For zoology, surprisingly, it is only compulsory to explicitely name a name-bearing specimen since 1999, when the 4th (and current) edition of the ICZN code was published.
The term 'holotype' though (and the concept of typification) is older. The earliest occurrence I can find is in this short communication in the journal Science from 1897: What is a type in Natural History? by Charles Schuchert.
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If you're seeking the answer for botany, check out Lorraine Daston's article "Type Specimens and Scientific Memory"
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$\begingroup$ This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 17 at 19:14