Selling Personal Collections

[rob love]

Chris
As collectors, the appeal to us is quality, along with rarity, and in some cases quantity. To the average member of the public, which is 99% of the viewers of most museums, the artifacts must tell, or be part of, a story.

The average person is not interested in the rarity of a beat up LongBranch 1941 no4mk1 over seeing a pristine FTRd British made rifle being displayed. Nor would most care to even know the difference. So the massive walls of webbing that might well entertain us will be lost on the normal tours of people to the museums. So yes, 95% or more of the artifacts will be in storage, but from my experience, they will be well stored and there when the time does come that a suitable theme presents itself to draw them out.

Yes, it would be great to have coliseum sized museums, but the public appetite for the cost just isn't there.

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Speaking of never seeing the light of day again...
The CWM literally has vaults full of memorabilia that will always be there, locked away sitting in the dark.
The only time items will be removed from storage is when the decision is made to put on a theme inspired exhibit and they go scrounging through storage for a few select pieces.
Furthermore, there is little need for museums to have more than one example of specific pieces. I can just imagine drawers fulls of duplicate medals.
Once in the museums hands, these items rarely make it back into the collectors realm.
Rules and regulations prohibit the exchange, sale or trade of donated materials outside of museums. It is a shame.
I have had the personal opportunity to view many personal collections that make most museums look paltry by comparison. I believe collectors take great care and pride in their collections and give them a better home. Afterall, personal collectors spend their own time and money to make these investments and caring for them is in their own best interests. The same cannot be said for collections owned and managed by paid employees where it is merely a job, funding can be cut or museums closed.