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50 Years of Munich Mineral Shows
The Munich Show 2023
A stock market review by Robert Brandstetter
Contributions by: Stefan Weiß and Tobias Weise
Collecting minerals and fossils was primarily the domain of the nobility in the 18th and early 19th centuries. From the mid-19th century until the two World Wars, collecting these so-called earth-scientific specimens was mainly the domain of scientists, academics, and the financially well-to-do middle class.
Objects.
A quarter of a century after the Second World War, the economic miracle allowed ordinary citizens to once again have money left over for other things that made life more enjoyable, after covering essential living expenses. This led to a surge in the popularity of mineral and fossil collecting during the 1970s. The first collectors' associations emerged in major metropolitan areas, and initially, members met regularly in pubs to exchange ideas with like-minded individuals. To showcase their often self-discovered specimens or offer their duplicates to interested colleagues, collectors organized swap meets in the large halls of pubs – including one in Munich in 1964, marking the beginning of today's mineral shows. Interest in these beautiful works of art from nature and the desire to own such pieces grew stronger, and the associations enjoyed a surge in membership.
In 1972, four enthusiasts—Dr. Josef Clemente, Max Stangl, Johannes Keilmann, and Christian Weise—met in Munich, united by a shared vision. They wondered if it would be possible to elevate the ever-growing mineral shows from their pub-like image to something more sophisticated. A major mineral show was envisioned at the Munich Trade Fair Center—at that time still located next to the Oktoberfest grounds on the Theresienwiese. With the courage of pioneers, the skill and luck of the capable, they created the "Munich Mineral Days," an event that would grow into the most important mineralogical trade fair on the European continent.
After the first two founding members left after a year, Christian Weise also left the Munich Mineral Days GBR and shortly thereafter ended his scientific career at LMU Munich as a graduate geophysicist. Inspired by a visit to the USA, he had a different idea and soon founded his publishing house, which specialized in mineralogical literature and guides to mineral sites. With the monthly journal Lapis, published since 1976, which remains the mineralogical magazine with the highest circulation to this day,
For him, a success story began in a different direction.
Johannes Keilmann took over the management of the Mineral Days in 1975, but could always count on the active support of his entire family and the Munich Mineral Society, the largest association in Germany. Through innovative ideas and steady, healthy growth, he succeeded in creating an event that became the second most important mineralogical event worldwide, after Tucson, Arizona.
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