Fossils for Sale - SVP 2019

[Ash]

On 26/10/2019 at 8:31 PM, Troodon said:

Interesting that you make that comment.  I provided a small dinosaur jaw to this major museum that had teeth in it with different morphologies.  Two of the morphs had each been described as different dinosaurs but were tooth taxons.  When they went to locate the holotype of one of them, not at that museum, it could not be found.  

 

To your other point..

The ROM provided me a replica of a maxilla jaw I loaned them to study.  Could not tell the difference between the real and replica both in appearence, weight and color.  They Could not write a paper since it was not in their VAULT.    That needs to change.

 

Any particular reason you didn’t donate what sounds like a scientifically valuable specimen?

[Troodon]

33 minutes ago, Ash said:

 

Any particular reason you didn’t donate what sounds like a scientifically valuable specimen?

So just because I have lots of scientifically important specimens in my collection I'm supposed to turn everything over to museums?  No I do the next best thing provided them the specimen for study, cast etc.   I also have paleontologists come over my house to examine them etc.  At some point when its time to dismantle my collection each specimen will find a good home with either collectors or museums.  At this point I'm enjoying what I have why I collect.

[Ash]

You got a bit defensive there. Sounds like you get told you should donate a bit. I never said that.

 

I said “any particular reason you didn’t”.

 

 

We’re in a similar boat with important specimens. They’re willed to our local major museum.

[Ptychodus04]

1 hour ago, Troodon said:

when its time to dismantle my collection each specimen will find a good home with either collectors or museums

Keep me in mind.

[Ash]

11 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said:

Keep me in mind.

 

Off topic but how’d that phytosaur skull end up? The one with the shoddy excavation job

[Ptychodus04]

5 minutes ago, Ash said:

 

Off topic but how’d that phytosaur skull end up? The one with the shoddy excavation job

It wound up in a box. We decided that my time was better spent elsewhere. I'm currently working on another phytosaur whose skull is in better shape and includes some post-cranial elements.

[Ptychodus04]

6 hours ago, Ash said:

Your reference to skeletons in museums being from commercial diggers misses my point. Amateurs lack the access due to commercials getting it instead (due to money). Commercials then find the skeleton and sell it to a museum.

 

vs

 

amateur gets permission. Finds skeleton, informs museum, museum come and remove skeleton and don’t have to pay an enormous cost that could have been used to further research and education.

 

 

I'm not sure I fully agree that commercialism is the villain in our current scenario. I have yet to be denied access to property to collect for personal reasons due to commercial collecting. Keep in mind that museums don't have the staff or resources for extensive field operations. When they do, it is typically focused in one or two areas of main research. I'll use the Perot Museum in Dallas as an example since I am quite familiar with them. They have 2 main focus areas. One is the north slope in Alaska. They typically have one trip per year up there and it is funded mostly by grants. The other is a local site (Arlington Archosaur Site) that was started by a few individuals and was eventually taken over by the museum after the leader (Derek Main) died. This excavation is nearly 100% run by volunteers. There are only a handful of paleontologists on staff. Most museums have the same difficulties. None of these are caused by commercial collection.

 

I agree that the price tag of dinosaur fossils has blown up but that (IMHO) is a factor of public awareness and desire to own them. When I was younger, dinosaurs weren't as in vogue. Only nerds like me were into them. Then, Jurassic Park arrives on the scene and every kid is suddenly in love with dinosaurs. Demand increases and you get what we have here today.

[Scylla]

On 5/13/2020 at 10:20 AM, Ptychodus04 said:

Keep me in mind.

+1

 

On 5/13/2020 at 2:35 PM, Ptychodus04 said:

...

I agree that the price tag of dinosaur fossils has blown up but that (IMHO) is a factor of public awareness and desire to own them. When I was younger, dinosaurs weren't as in vogue. Only nerds like me were into them. Then, Jurassic Park arrives on the scene and every kid is suddenly in love with dinosaurs. Demand increases and you get what we have here today.

I remember dinosaurs were very popular before Jurrassic Park too, but I'm a dinosaur myself. Everything collectable goes through relative price bubbles. I know an auction house owner who told me most antiques have plummeted in price to where he can't even get the melt value for some gold and silver items. I remember baseball card prices in the 1980's went through a bubble. Meteorites had a price bubble too, and it prompted the collection of tons of new material. Maybe higher prices for dinosaurs can pay for more excavations? Most museums are in big trouble now. I heard yesterday that the AMNH is even laying off staff. 

 

P.S. The classic market bubble is the tulip bubble. Collectors drove the price of tulip bulbs to ridiculous levels.

[Ptychodus04]

1 hour ago, Scylla said:

 

I remember dinosaurs were very popular before Jurrassic Park too, but I'm a dinosaur myself.

I’m not saying they weren’t popular, how could they not be?  I’m just saying JP made them exponentially more popular to the masses.

 

I wish custom knives made by no name blacksmiths would go up in value. 

[Bobby Rico]

1 hour ago, Ptychodus04 said:

wish custom knives made by no name blacksmiths would go up in value. 

Your have to wait for the movie to come our to boost profits . 

[Ptychodus04]

3 hours ago, Bobby Rico said:

Your have to wait for the movie to come our to boost profits . 

Snarge!!!

[Scylla]

On 5/18/2020 at 9:37 AM, Bobby Rico said:

Your have to wait for the movie to come our to boost profits . 

Maybe the show Forged in Fire will do it?