[meteorite-list] D. New's old meteorite lists

From: Zelimir Gabelica <Zelimir.Gabelica_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:34:57 +0100
Message-ID: <5.0.2.1.2.20070108190526.027ace50_at_pop.univ-mulhouse.fr>

Hi Alex, all,

Alex, it seems we were almost at the same place at the same time in the
recent past when we both started collecting meteorites (I did in 1992
thanks to David's wise advice, probably you earlier ?).
I visited him in Anacortes in 1992 and 1995, at least for meteorites (I did
several other times for minerals, in Mukilteo, where David lived before
moving a little bit Southwards to Anacortes, since...1980).
And yes: all my 100+ thin sections did come exclusively from David as well.

Your idea to try to find out and gather David's old lists describing
meteorites and their prices is indeed brillant!
I certainly second it.
I am also ready to contribute but am affraid having only a few of them,
basically from 1993 up to ...?
I am sure Bernd could help as well. Perhaps (certainly ?) Mark (Bostick)
and many more of you guys from overseas, I believe.

Well, the idea is:
Shall I ask...David ?
Let me reassure you, Margaret and David are doing very well and are in
excellent shape! I got news from them...some minutes ago.
I know that he is not anymore really willing to remain on the scene so we
use stay in touch for many things we have in common, other than meteorites,
but certainly still also meteorites, at least regarding general debates and
advices David can provide.
I can at least ask hiw whether he still has copies of his past lists in his
files and whether he can agree we use these lists for the best of the
reasons: preserve a specific cultural heritage.

I know that David nowadays prefers remaining more "behind the curtain" so I
would prefer first hear your feelings for such contact to be pertinent,
before trying to contact him officially for that, on anynone's behalf.

Let me know your thoughts.

Alex, we have much to talk about this passionate past times, in the 2007
Ensisheim session, if you can make it...

Cordially,

Zelimir


A 19:03 08/01/2007 +0100, Alexander Seidel a ?crit :
>I wonder if there is anyone out there who has collected all those price
>lists that David New used to send to his customers via airmail - which
>happened in the pre-internet times, of course. I would have to dig in my
>old files to still find a few of them, but may be someone out there has a
>more complete collection of the lists, with David?s very unique
>description of his offered pieces, "superb" always being top choice! :-)
>Bernd, I know you have many, if not all of these in your archives, at
>least for as long as you collect meteorites... These lists, if they were
>scanned and somehow made available via the net, would be a great show
>example of how things were in the later second half of the last century -
>I would even call it sort of "cultural heritage" with respect to the
>meteorite business.
>
>I loved to communicate with David over many years, until he somehow
>disappeared from the (active) dealer scene and even in more recent times
>on a more private basis, and I hope he is still around at good health
>together with his wife Margaret. In the early Ninetees I once visited him
>at his home in Anacortes, Washington. A real gentleman, and great guy! PS:
>btw he was the first one to offer meteoritic thin sections to a wider
>public, and I am proud that most of my 150+ specimens have gone through
>his hands.
>
>Alex
>Berlin/Germany
>
>-------- Original-Nachricht --------
>Datum: Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:41:13 +0100
>Von: Zelimir Gabelica <Zelimir.Gabelica at uha.fr>
>An: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] Forestburg (b) L5 chondrite
>
> > Hello Bernd, Gary, list
> >
> > I completely agree with Bernd regarding the aesthetics of Forestburg (b).
> > I was lucky enough to acquire a 315 g complete slice in the old good times
> > (1995) when such beauties were available here and there and their gram
> > prices quite affordable. David New was, at that time, such a person, one
> > of
> > the most expertized meteorite dealers, a man full of knowledge, fairness,
> > kindness and respect towards collectors. Bernd should not contradict me.
> > Regarding that slice of Forestburg (b), David told me one day something
> > like "Zelimir, if you are a true collector, you must take that one". It
> > was
> > not listed for sale but rather a specific offer from David for a
> > beginner-collector and friend. And, believe me, he did not push the sale
> > for some profit as David first wanted our satisfaction.
> > In this case, mine was reached beyond all my expectations and I agreed to
> > get it without even having a preliminary idea of its aspect, except a
> > short
> > description, because I just trusted my friend.
> >
> > I have no pictures on hand to show you but here is a summary of its
> > characteristics.
> > It is a 150 x 70 mm full slice, 15 mm thick. Both sides are neatly
> > polished
> > and show a black pattern, full of metal (Fe-Ni) spots, grains and islets,
> > along with some schreibersite patches. It nicely contrasts with the thick
> > red-brown crust well visible all around and carrying a painted number "M
> > 148.1b" (Monnig collection at TCU).
> > I don't remember having noticed any greenish inclusion (as, e.g., in
> > "Belle
> > Plaine" or "Lahoma", to cite 2 other meteorites that involve such
> > inclusions ) but will check this later for sure.
> > Needless to say this slice remains as one of my collection master pieces.
> >
> > The conclusion of this example is that sometimes one does not necessarily
> > need some rare meteorite type to appreciate an odd pattern and that
> > sometimes a simple L5 or H6 can offer some extraordinary fairy-like
> > picture. I understand how Gary and Bernd did appreciate their acquisition
> > of Forestburg (b).
> > The other, and perhaps even more rewarding conclusion is that you can
> > sometimes get the "best of the best" by just trusting a genuine friend and
> > his expertise, if you are lucky enough to know such a person. And I am
> > sure
> > such people are certainly still numerous around us, within our
> > list....they
> > should recognize themselves...
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Zelimir
> >

Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Universit? de Haute Alsace
ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC,
3, Rue A. Werner,
F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15
Received on Mon 08 Jan 2007 01:34:57 PM PST