[meteorite-list] ID cards

From: mark ford <markf_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:50:57 -0000
Message-ID: <6CE3EEEFE92F4B4085B0E086B2941B3165819D_at_s-southern01.s-southern.com>

Hi,

I agree with you! This is a pet hate of mine too. We went through this
loop a few years ago, discussion centered around the fact that important
information is being lost when meteorite cards where either not passed
on (or being replaced by another dealers card), or no information on
them was ever forwarded to the 'end user'. and thus a great deal of
provenance is lost (I know I have some old ex monnig/nininger and famous
collection pieces in my collection, but most don't have any proof
because they are new slices and no cards where issued - so that vital
historical link is simply lost forever!
 
 I think that the paper/and card labels from the more well known people
such as Mike and the Hupes etc, will usually be passed on if the piece
is resold as these can actually add value (or add some sort of
confidence factor) to the specimen (you may disagree, but who in their
right mind would buy an unknown ebay lunar microspec that didn't at
least come with a famous 'dealer named card' with it??)

We also discussed the concept of 'a standardized meteorite card', like a
passport, but simply just a sheet of paper/card with a standard set of
information on it (origins, original size, type number, who's owned it,
what was done to the slice (treatment etc), if the specimen was cut then
the card is copied and each piece gets it's own passport with the info
on. (Dealers could still make their own card too if they wanted, of
course).

The other point is that the info on cards often differs between dealers,
sometimes not even a weight, or type is on it. A standard card would
make sure pieces are properly described, it could be downloadable for
all as a pdf of something.

 We even got to the stage of the IMCA asking for people to send in ideas
for a standard card, but this didn't seem to materialize....?

Mark Ford





-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of David
Weir
Sent: 16 November 2006 10:47
To: Meteorite List
Subject: [meteorite-list] ID cards

Dear List,

I remember when dealers used to give ID cards that were actually made
from card stock, or at least thick paper. Perhaps those who sell
thousands of specimens a year figure their businesses can save a few
dollars by going to flimsy paper for their ID cards, that's their
business decision. I personally don't like these flimsy paper "cards"
because they get bent and tear easily and just aren't compatible with
the real cards that I receive from the vast majority of dealers. I am
hesitant to pass these flimsy pieces of paper on to others when I trade
away or sell different specimens because they just make the specimen
seem cheap somehow, comparable to the cheap paper used. I just don't
understand how any highly successful meteorite business selling in a
worldwide market and trying to maintain a high standard of excellence
can provide such crappy (as in cow crappy) ID papers. I find it hard to
imagine a reason to do this, except of course if the cost of the card
stock for the card would be a significant portion of the sales profit,
such as in a Bessy speck. I'm not referring to that situation. I have
never seen this issue brought up on the list before and so I am
fearlessly bringing it up. Those who take offense are welcome to throw
crap at me, I have my Tyvek suit on and really don't care. I just get
tired of dealers calling flimsy paper IDs "ID Cards", but I'll get over
it in a few minutes.

David
The Weir Meteorite Collection
meteoritestudies .com
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Received on Thu 16 Nov 2006 06:50:57 AM PST