This listing is for a single Meteorite Specimen. It is a slice/speciemn of the meteorite discovered in the town of Faucett, Missouri meteorite in 1966.
Well, it took a year for us to prevail against one of the largest academic institutions in the United States but we finally did. About a year ago, when we originally listed this meteorite specimen (and others) here on eBay, within 48 hours we were contacted by school authorities, informed that that this and other meteorite specimens we had just listed listed were in fact stolen property, and demanded we take down the listings and return the specimens to the University IMMEDIATELY. Out of respect and caution, we did take the listings down, but did not agree to return them. For months we communicated with the school and law enforcement, during their investigation. I won't say I wasn't worried that I might on any given day, have hand-cuffs show up at my front door, but it thankfully never happened. It didn't happen because...although they did once belong to the school...these meteorite samples were now in the possession of their rightful owner. After many, many months, the school and authorities dropped their claim. These meteorites specimens were legally acquired by us, through the estate auction/liquidation of a scientist/geologist who had worked for Caltech and JPL and enjoyed a relationship, many years ago, with the prominent school, allowing access to the school's meteorite collection.
After a year's time and the school finally ending their investigation (something we had to inquire about because they weren't polite enough to inform us they had dropped the case), we are now re-listing these and several other specimens here on eBay. Though we are under no legal requirement to do so, because of a request by the school and out of respect for a few innocent parties, we are not listing/mentioning any names of people or parties here in the generic description of the item. However the winning bidder will be given copies of all provenance and documents that prove we are the legal owners of these meteorites.
My legal representation explained the likely reason for the school dropping their claim was a legal term titled: 'Abandonment of Claim'. The school lent the specimens to the scientist for evaluation more than a quarter of a century ago but through un-explained actions, or inaction, failed to either request or insist the scientist return the meteorites. 'Abandonment of Claim' essentially is akin to 'statutes of limitation' where claims on, and thefts of, property or crimes, expire if not reported in a reasonable time frame. In our case, the law protects new owners like myself if the original owner (the university), lent something to someone over an extended period of time (in this case, 25+ years), knew the property was missing...but never reported it missing or stolen to the authorities and never took legal action to have it returned. For some reason, they did not want to press the issue with the esteemed scientist or his family (after he retired). Amazing though...that within 48 hours of seeing them on eBay (after 25 years), the school reported them stolen and started making demands...demands that should have occurred decades ago to the Scientist who 'borrowed' them.
THE WINNER OF THIS AUCTION WILL RECIEVE:
1) Copy of a dated loan document from the school's Geophysics and Planetary Physics Institute, signed by the institute's director AND, the scientist that borrowed the meteorites towards the end of last century.
2) Photocopies of the Log book from the school showing these belonged to the school as late as 1997.
3) Statement provided to me by the school that the specimens were never returned by the scientist.
4) Copy of our eBay store's receipt from the estate liquidation company showing we legally purchased the specimens from the late scientist's estate.
5) Comparative photos showing that the methods of slicing and cataloging the meteorites in my possession are consistent with other samples the school has retained.
6) Other university documents of meteorites, some of which we have in our possession and which we plan to sell here on eBay at a later date.
I am in possession of these and other documents because they were presented to me as 'DOCUMENTS' in an attempt to prove ownership by the University. These and direct communications by law enforcement were supposed to intimidate me into giving them my meteorites. The documents were very helpful. They showed that at some point in time they did belong to the school but they also showed without a doubt the school's 'Abandonment of Claim'.
If you have kept reading this far in the post, you likely know a lot more about this meteorite than I do, but we thought we would provide a link on the Faucett meteorite any way:
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=10077
SHIPPING:
We are aware that shipping is a little steep at $12 but this item needs to be insured for the full retail sales price.
HEADS UP ON MORE FAUCETT METEORITE SPECIMENS AND OTHER METEORITES IN OUR INVENTORY:
We will be listing and selling many other meteorite samples acquired from the estate sale that produced this Faucett specimen. They will include more Faucett slices and several others including some from China as well as other locations around the world
Thank you for visiting our eBay Southern California eBay store where we seek, identify and acquire, vintage, antique and rare items, making them available to our discriminating clients who seek them.
Good look if you plan to bid.
Jared E. & Crew