Career
He is most renowned for his foundational studies concerning the ethnography, documents and history of Mesoamerican cultures, for which he is regarded as one of the most influential Mesoamericanist scholars active around the turn of the 20th century. On the spot, the Selers were helped by Mexican scholar and historian Antonio Peñafiel. December 5th, 1849 – Birth in Crossen an der Oder, Prussia
1863-1869 – Attendance at Joachimsthalsche Gymnasium, Berlin
1870-1871 — Military service (during the Franco-Prussian War)
1871-1875 – Studies at University of Berlin
1875-1879 – Teaching science and mathematics
1887 – Doctoral degree from University of Leipzig
1895-1897 - Investigation of Maya cave sites including Quen Santo
1904-1922 – Directorship of American Division, Königliches Museum für Völkerkunde in Berlin
1922 — Death
in the original German:- Gesammelte Abhandlungen zur Amerikanischen Sprachund Alterthumskunde.
5 volumes
Berlin: A. Asher, 1902-1923. translated (by Charles P Bowditch & Frank East Comparato) into English:- Collected Works in Mesoamerican Linguistics and Archaeology. Culver City (California): Labyrinthos, 1990-1998.