Specimen of butterfly collected by Hesse found

A specimen of butterfly collected by German novelist Hermann Hesse has been found in Osaka, western Japan.

Hesse, a Nobel Prize laureate in literature, is not only well known as one of the major literary figures of the 20th century but also for his love of nature.

The specimen of a species of butterfly known as Erebia niphonica was found in a collection that a Japanese collector in Osaka obtained in Europe about 30 years ago.

Soichiro Kinoshita says the specimen has been genuinely confirmed as being Hesse's since the handwriting on a label resembles that of Hesse.

He added a sketch by Hesse proved that he was in Austria on a date in 1927, which corresponds to the date and site described on the label of the specimen.

Kinoshita says he could not believe the amazing find and that he plans to donate the specimen to a museum.

Professor emeritus Asao Okada of Toyo University, who translated many of Hesse's novels, says it was a precious discovery since the label carries the date which is after the end of World War One. That would contradict previous beliefs that Hesse stopped collecting insects at the outbreak of the war.

The specimen will be displayed at a special exhibition featuring Hesse that opens on Saturday at the Osaka Museum of National History