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Post by colin12303 on Feb 24, 2012 10:55:33 GMT -8
Just wondering what is going to happen to all the collections out there. My wife and kids are not interested and would not know how to or want to look after them. They have already said they would like me to get rid of/sell as they do not know the value and can't be bothered,and would much rather have the cash Museums only want to cherry pick Ideas anyone
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Post by admin on Feb 24, 2012 14:13:56 GMT -8
Sell 'em off at a bug fair. Museums are understaffed these days.
And you could sell them here, in the Insect Classifieds. We'd like to see what you have.
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Post by Chris Grinter on Feb 24, 2012 15:06:20 GMT -8
Where do you get the idea that museums only want to cherry pick? In my experience it's all or nothing when it comes to a museum - of course it depends on what you collect. A collection of butterflies is usually the hardest to donate unless it has a very strong component in a group the museum has very little of. A regional museum 75% of the time will not want a local butterfly collection - but a school or nature center might be dying to get it (and not properly take care of it). I know the California Academy of Sciences regularly turns down donations of butterfly collections, they just can't keep taking drawers of mostly common material forever!
The rarer the collection the more it's worth and the more people would want it - and honestly I've never heard of a museum only taking bits and pieces. Please consider donation, and have a specific institution highlighted in your will! The very best option is to donate the entire collection while you're still alive so you can oversee the transfer of material and you get to go visit it as often as you like.
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Post by saturniidave on Feb 24, 2012 17:02:35 GMT -8
Chris, sadly things are different here in the U.K. The major museums do not want collections, as Colin says they will cherry-pick the best stuff. If you donate it to a local museum or study group etc it will very soon become a pile of dust and Anthernus exivia. Trust me, I am speaking from experience.
Colin, don't sell it yet! Give me a ring.
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Post by lucanidae25 on Feb 24, 2012 17:23:35 GMT -8
A very good friend of mine told me that he wanna be buried with his whole collection in the coffin when he dead. That's his wish. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by colin12303 on Feb 25, 2012 5:25:43 GMT -8
Dave is right i actually bought some charaxes from a dealer and recognised the data from someone who donated their collection to a certain museum. When i queried this he said he bought them from the family after the museum had called at the house,cherry picked and left behind what they didn't want. So not only was the family left to dispose of them but all the good stuff had gone so the value was greatly reduced. I hope i didn't appear that i was desperate to dispose of my collection,i'm not. I have decided that when i retire in 7 years i will then use my time to photograph and then sell the specimens.(e.bay no doubt) I will photogragh some now and post the pictures as i have got some bits that may be of interest to some
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Post by anthony on Feb 25, 2012 13:46:07 GMT -8
I am planning to donate mine to a small local school as a teaching aid, perhaps somthing you might be interested in checking in to.
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Post by colin12303 on Feb 25, 2012 14:16:58 GMT -8
Already done that. When my daughter worked at the local primary school as a classroom assistant,she asked if i could let them have some bugs. I donated a store box full of pretty butterflies like delias and another store box full of horrible stuff like water scorpions. The kids liked the horrible stuff more.To my knowledge they still have them,and they only have to ask if they need more.
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