Abbreviation in German on old mineral label

Does anyone know what the German abbreviation "A. b." means exactly next to the data? Please don't try to guess if you don't know as this will be for publication.

Best Wishes, Van King

Van,
Are you sure it "A. b." or, upon closer inspection, is that "4. 6. 1822" in which case it could be the collection date.

Dear Paul,

Thank you! I don't think so. Here is another with the "A. b.". I will send others.

Best Wishes, Van

Best Wishes, Van King

Ok Van, just exhausting all possibilities.
I will run this past my native German Mother-in-Law tomorrow to see what she thinks.

Attached is the sheet of labels. There are other abbreviations including "A. h.", "A. v.", and "A. g.", but those labels appear to be newer. The specimens are all from the same collection and were acquired by the collection on the same day.

Best Wishes, Van King

seems to be an acquisition code - so maybe not at all an abbreviation
1822, would be too early for Paris producing tourmaline, wouldn't it?

cheers

I received a private message from the curator of the particular museum saying that the "A.b." before 1821 and 1822 was a historical, but late inventory number and was only coincidentally resembled a date. Sigh! The abbreviation was not identified, however. Of course, my interest in 1821 and 1822 was the tantalizing possibility that they were dates and that the abbreviation was indicating date of acquisition. The coincidental 1821 and 1822 would have been spot on for the discovery time of Mount Mica - 1821. Look for publication later this month in Journal of the Geoliterary Society.

Best Wishes, Van King

Just an idea: may it indicate the way the specimen was acquired, like 'bought', 'traded', received as a present', 'own find'? I don't know German, so I cannot judge about that possibility.

A.a. ..., A.b. ..., B ..., C ... etc. is an old numbering scheme used for collection catalogues.
Our museum (NHM Vienna) uses it.