[meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories

From: Bernhard <rendelius_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Sep 14 09:45:02 2004
Message-ID: <003d01c49a61$31f6ce60$a615170a_at_PDO>

FYI: when I send out an item to a customer, I always send out a
preprinted info sheet which contains, amongst tips how to store and
curate your meteorites, a paragraph about the importance of keeping
records of them. Here's a (free) translation of this paragraph:

"Please keep a catalogue of your meteorites - nothing is more annoying
than not to know which piece is which, where it comes from and what the
significance of the specimen is. Number your meteorites in some way
(adhesive stickers - or keep them in numbered boxes/bags), so they can
always be associated with their data/history. It's for your own pleasure
and safety, since a meteorite without the appropriate info is worth a
lot less than a properly described specimen. Apart from that, it doesn't
just loose value, it is lost for science as well."

This info helps in two ways: it helps my customers to appreciate what
they have got, and it helps them to understand that I care for what I
sell (which could, in return for the info, help to turn them into return
customers).


  _____

Best regards,
Bernhard "Rendelius" Rems

CEO RPGDot Network

 
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-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of mark
ford
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 3:15 PM
To: Meteorite List
Subject: RE: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories


Great article!

Yeah, Sure it happens, and it shouldn't! I don't see why institutions
need to be so cagey, pretty well all institutions exchange material with
dealers, it goes with the territory. And it's clear they all have their
'favorite dealers', but I am sure anyone that came to them with the
right material would get let in the door.

Bottom line - Any so called scientist that requests/grinds off labels to
disguise important information should be thoroughly ashamed of
themselves...


Best,
Mark



-----Original Message-----
From: martinh_at_isu.edu [mailto:martinh@isu.edu]
Sent: 14 September 2004 13:39
To: Meteorite List
Subject: Re: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories

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.ht
m

Cheers,

Martin

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Received on Tue 14 Sep 2004 09:46:05 AM PDT