[meteorite-list] ID cards

From: Martin Horejsi <accretiondesk_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 07:26:25 -0700
Message-ID: <9c2f96d20611160626g1c2d456aje9f2cbd7bafa5cee_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi All,

David does make a good point. However, I believe it is the quality of
the specimen, not the thickness of the card, that makes a good
meteoritical addition to a collection. I know that is not what David
meant, but I believe that many of today's computer-printed cards are
light years ahead of the stack of receipts I have as specimen lables
from even five years ago.

Personally, I think the flimsiest ID cards I've ever received were
from Nininger's American Meteorite Museum, followed closely by Ward's,
the American Meteorite Lab, and the Chicago Field Museum, among
others. The smallest were from the Swiss Meteorite Lab (about 2cm
square) and the early Mile High Meteorites. The largest were from
Blaine Reed, but rarely did they identify any specific piece of the
described meteorite (but they were on cardstock).

For some examples, please see:
http://www.meteorite-times.com/Back_Links/2002/October/Accretion_Desk.htm

Personally, I insert all cards into the same protective plastic covers
and sleeves that are used to preserve baseball cards. Then file them
alphabetically in air-tight storage containers.

Cheers,

Martin







On 11/16/06, David Weir <dgweir at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 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 09:26:25 AM PST