Backeberg

Thanks to Matthias Echtermeyer (Backeberg heir) and Gottfried Gutte (our contact with Matthias Echtermeyer) for authorizing these electronic versions of the documents.

Under copyright (with permission)

Often cited by Backeberg in Die Cactaceae. Rare catalogue of 44 pages containing plant lists, pictures (B&W), short descriptions, advertisement…

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  • Interpreted file: Backeberg_10JahreKak.pdf (3.5MB; 2009-09-17)
  • Original file: Backeberg_10JahreKak_O.pdf (12,2MB; 2006-08-10)

Under copyright (with permission)

A selection of many pictures, often used later in his publications.

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  • Interpreted file: Backeberg_BildKatalog.pdf (3.5MB; 2009-09-17)
  • Original file: Backeberg_BildKatalog_O.pdf (7,4MB; 2006-08-10)

Under copyright (with permission)

A small catalogue with some pictures and descriptions.

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• Interpreted file: Backeberg_SudamerExped.pdf (0.9MB; 2009-09-17)
• Original file: Backeberg_SudamerExped_O.pdf (3.9MB; 2006-08-10)

Under copyright (with permission)

A series of periodic issues containing plant descriptions (with B&W pictures) and the classification according to Backeberg from 1934 to 1938. This four-language periodical was written in german, english, dutch and french. It aimed at being the world-wide reference among cactus publications.
The non-german texts were wrtitten by various people. The translations are sometimes very coarse if not wrong. Furthermore, typesetting is not very rigorous. Some corrections have been made in the interpreted file, however we recommend to refer essentially to the german text by Backeberg himself.

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  • Interpreted file: Backeberg_BfK.pdf (16.3MB; 2009-10-6)
  • Original file: Backeberg_BfK_O.pdf (197.1MB; 2009-10-6)

Under copyright (with permission)

This a historical book by Backeberg and Frederik Marcus Knuth (1904-1970). 432 pages, a few tens of B&W pictures, and more than 100 latin diagnoses of “new” genera, species and varieties. The book is however more or less confidential because it is written in Danish.

The reason for the publication of this book in Danish is obscure:

• It appeared more than one year after the first issues of ”Blätter für Kakteenforschung” (1934-38) where the basis of Backeberg classification was already given in 1934 in 4 languages. In 1930, F.M. Knuth published at author's expense ”Den nye kaktusbog” (“the new cactus book”) which was an interesting account with many B&W pictures. May be that Backeberg saw F.M. Knuth as a possible rival and preferred to bring him “into his boat”. Finally, F.M. Knuth probably sponsored Kaktus-ABC.
• The book is dated December 31st, 1935. According to the “Library of congress, copyright office” the real copyright date is February 12th, 1936. This is confirmed by a postcard of the printer sent to Fric & Kreuzinger ¹⁾. Thus, it seems that the date of publication was chosen to antedate other publications.

F.M. Knuth was Count of Knuthenborg an old Danish noble family. He began in the cactus literature as early as 1920 as the co-editor of “Nordisk Kaktus Tidsskrift” (Nordic cactus magazine). Then he published “Den nye kaktusbog” (the new cactus book) and finally was co-author of Kaktus-ABC. F.M. Knuth was then completely forgotten probably because he was an active member of the DNSAP.

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  • Interpreted file : Backeberg_KaktusABC.pdf (9.3MB; 2010-09-03)
  • Original file : Backeberg_KaktusABC_O.pdf (94.7MB; 2010-09-03)

Under copyright

This is the monumental work by Curt Backeberg, published from 1958 to 1962. More than 4000 pages and 3500 pictures in 6 volumes.

This book is still under copyright. In spite of our efforts it has been impossible to find any interested party. The book is nevertheless proposed owing to its historical interest. A reprint is unlikely since Backeberg's concepts do not fit any more modern botanical standards. However, if you can help solving the ownership problem, please contact us.

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  • Interpreted file:
    • Volume 1: Backeberg_DieCact1.pdf (77.4MB; 2010-02-18) [Peireskia, Rhodocactus, Maihuenia, Quiabentia, Peireskiopsis, Austrocylindropuntia, Pterocactus, Cylindropuntia, Grusonia, Marenopuntia, Tephrocactus, Maihueniopsis, Corynopuntia, Micropuntia, Brasiliopuntia, Consolea, Opuntia, Tacinga]
    • Volume 2: Backeberg_DieCact2.pdf (50MB; 2010-06-08) [Rhipsalis, Lepismium, Acantho- & Pseudorhipsalis, Hatiora, Erythrorhipslis, Rhipsalidopsis, Epiphyllanthus, pseudozygocactus, Epiphyllopsis, Schlumbergera, Zygocactus, Cryptocereus, Marniera, Epiphyllum, Eccremocatus, Nopalxochia, Chiapasia, Disocactus, Bonifazia, Wittia, Strophocactus, Daemia, Werckleocereus, Selenicereus, Mediocactus, Weberbauerocereus, Hylocereus, Aporocactus, Pfeiffera, Mila, Corryocactus, Erdisia, Neoraimondia, Neocardenasia, Armatocereus, Brachycereus, jasminocereus, Stetsonia, Browningia, Gymnocereus, Azureocereus, Clistanthocereus, Loxanthocereus, Bolivicereus, Borzicactus, Seticereus, Cleistocactus, Oreocereus, Morawetzia, Denmoza, Arequipa, Submatucana, Matucana, Samaipaticereus, Philippicereus, Trichocereus, Roseocereus, Eulychnia, Rauhocereus, Haageocereus, Pygmeocereus, Weberbauerocereus, Echinopsis, Leucostele, Helianthocereus, Chamaecereus, Pseudolobivia]]
    • Volume 3: Backeberg_DieCact3.pdf (75.4MB; 2010-12-05) [Acantholobivia, Acanthocalycium, Lobivia, Mediolobivia, Aylostera, Rebutia, Sulocrebutia, Austrocactus, Phyrrocactus, Brasilicactus, Parodia, Malacocarpus, Eriocactus, Notocactus, Frailea, Blossfeldia, Soehrensis, Oroya, Gymnocalycium, Brachycalycium, Weingartia, Neowerdermannia, Neochilenia, Horridocactus, Reicheocactus, Neoporteria, Eriosyce, Islaya, Pilocopiapoa, Copiapoa]
    • Volume 5: Backeberg_DieCact5.pdf (47.6MB; 2011-05-31) [Echinocactus, Homalocephala, Astrophytum, Sclerocactus, Leuchtenbergia, Neogomesia, Ferocactus, Hamatocactus, Echinofossulocactus, Thelocactus, Echinomastus, Utahia, Pediocactus, Gymnocactus, Strombocactus, Obregonia, Toumeya, Navajoa, Pilocanthus, Turbinicarpus, Aztekium, Lophophora, Epithelantha, Mediocoryphantha, Gladulicactus, Ancistrocactus, Neolloydia, Neobesseya, Escobaria, Lepidocoryphantha, Coryphantha, Roseocactus, Encephalocarpus, Pelecyphora, Solisia, Ariocarpus, Mamillaria, Porfiria, Krainzia, Phellosperma, Dolichothele, Mamillopsis, Cochemiea]
    • Volume 6: Backeberg_DieCact6.pdf (50MB; 2010-02-24) [Supplement and Index]]
  • Original file:
    • Volume 1: Backeberg_DieCact1_O.pdf (106.7MB; 2010-02-18)
    • Volume 2: Backeberg_DieCact2_O.pdf (154.9MB; 2010-06-08)
    • Volume 3: Backeberg_DieCact3_O.pdf (198.9MB; 2010-12-07)
    • Volume 5, p. 1-500: Backeberg_DieCact5_O-1-500.pdf (124.1MB; 2011-05-31)
    • Volume 5, p. 501-970: Backeberg_DieCact5_O-501-970.pdf (130.5MB; 2011-05-31)
    • Volume 6: Backeberg_DieCact6_O.pdf (82.7MB; 2010-02-24)