[meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories

From: martinh_at_isu.edu <martinh_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Sep 14 08:38:45 2004
Message-ID: <5c8e955c7f96.5c7f965c8e95_at_isu.edu>

Hi All,

True story:

Dealer B gets specimens from Dealer A. Notices an area ground off the surface of all the specimens.

Dealer B gets more specimens from Dealer A. Again notices spot ground off on all pieces.

Dealer B calls Dealer A and asks for an explanation and is told that the pieces are coming from a large institutional collection where the specimens are individually numbered. Instead of chemically dissolving off the painted specimen numbers, Dealer A simply ground them off with a bench grinder because it was much faster.

Why would the numbers be removed and the collection history prior to Dealer A hidden? It was by request of the institutional collection. The institutional collection wanted to keep the fact that they were releasing specimens from the other dealers and collector in order to avoid being bombarded by trade and purchase requests.

I doubt that this story is an isolated incident.

For your reading enjoyment, I have addressed collection history in my Acc
retion Desk articles at The Meteorite Times. Here are a couple of them:

Leaving a Paper Trail http://www.meteoritetimes.com/Back_Links/2002/October/Accretion_Desk.htm

Lucky Numbers: Specimen Labels as License Plates from the Past
http://www.meteoritetimes.com/Back_Links/2002/November/Accretion_Desk.htm

Cheers,

Martin



----- Original Message -----
From: mark ford <markf_at_ssl.gb.com>
Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:27 am
Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories

>
> Benr'd,
>
> Yes I can see some instances where info would be 'commercially
> sensitive' fair enough, but 'bought from Morocco' would do as a start
> for NWA's!
>
> A lot of the time however, even basic info is just simply not passed
> on. This would be a way of making sure it is. Dealers could still
> produce their own labels in addition if they wish. I don't think a
> cheapNWA would be worth it, but for specimens of historic value or
> rarestuff, The history is so important!
>
> It saddens
me when you get cut specimens from dealers who trade with
> the museums and institutions, the info about origin is hardly ever
> passed on, not through commercial interests but because it is not
> deemedimportant.
>
> For example I have many pieces which I know are ex BM, but I have no
> Label and no way of telling this! And I have bought many specimens in
> the past that are finds from the 1800's all they have on them is a
> sticker from the last dealer with just the name of the meteorite -
> Thatcan't be good can it?
>
> It's obvious most historic stuff would have been through several
> Famousinstitutions and collectors before being sold on the open
> market. What a
> missed marketing opportunity more than anything else!
>
>
>
> Best,
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bernhard "Rendelius" Rems [rendelius_at_rpgdot.com]
> Sent: 14 September 2004 11:52
> To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Historie
s
>
> Well, yes and no. Yes, because it would add to the documentation of a
> certain piece. No, because if you are a seller, you do not really want
> to disclose your source most of the times.
>
> _____
>
> Best regards,
> Bernhard "Rendelius" Rems
Received on Tue 14 Sep 2004 08:38:42 AM PDT