Originally from Saxony, Baltzer moved to Zurich in 1855, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1880. After studying natural sciences in Zurich and Bonn, he was first a teacher at the industrial school in Zurich (1879–1882 rector) and from 1873 to 1884 also a private lecturer in geology at the University of Zurich. In 1884 he became full professor of geology and mineralogy at the University of Bern. From 1884 to 1889 he was also part-time curator at the Natural History Museum in Bern.

Terrain models made by Baltzer (details on Swiss Relief Catalogue)

• Glärnisch, ca. 1880
• Mont Collon group, before 1870

[1] This article bases on Mair, Toni. Grieder, Susanne. Das Landschaftsrelief – Symbiose von Wissenschaft und Kunsthandwerk. Mit Schweizer Reliefkatalog. Verlag hier+jetzt. Baden, Schweiz. 2006. S.154

See also: Armin Baltzer (German Wikipedia)