I too, have purchased many items from eBay sellers for my small historical society over the past three years.  Most sellers do not know or remember where they first came across the items they are selling.  If the provenance is important to your collection, then I would not recommend
buying from eBay.  On the other hand, sometimes wonderful oral histories come along with the items and a little bit our our town's history is revealed!  Priceless.

Jeanne Kolva
Highland Park, NJ

Kathy Clewell wrote:

> Hugh --
> We have been purchasing items for the collection on eBay for about six
> months now.  Mostly rare books and historic postcards, a couple of baskets
> and a few miscellaneous items.  We are a tribal museum in the planning
> stages for a new facility.  We are building our collection for library,
> archives and research, as well as for use in specific areas of the planned
> permanent exhibition.  EBay has been a great source.
> The eBay vendors have been great.  When we are successful, I always let them
> know that an item has been purchased for the museum.  Some of the vendors
> have even thrown in a bonus postcard as a donation.  A couple of local eBay
> vendors have delivered the items directly to the museum to save us the
> shipping costs.
> On only two occasions have we have received merchandise that had some
> damages that had not been described in the auction comments.  Those vendors
> have been apologetic and willing to take the items back.
> Overall we have had great success.
> Good luck on your purchasing.
> --Kathy
>
> Kathy Clewell
> Registrar
> Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
> 219 S. Palm Canyon Drive
> Palm Springs, CA  92262
> phone: 760/778-1079
> fax: 760/322-7724
> email: [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Hugh H. Genoways
> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 2:30 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Use of e-bay
>
> Does anyone have experience with buying items on e-bay for your museum's
> collections?  Has it been successful?  Did you encounter any problems?
> What were they?  Any recommendations for other museums looking to fill
> specific needs for the collection in this manner?  We are particularly
> interested in any attempts to purchase Civil War related artifacts in this
> manner.
>
> Thanks for your insights.
>
> Sincerely,
> Hugh
>
> Hugh H. Genoways
> University of Nebraska State Museum
> W436 Nebraska Hall
> University of Nebraska-Lincoln
> Lincoln, NE 68588-0514
>
> Telephone: 402-472-2012
> FAX: 402-472-8949
>
> E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Professor
> University of Nebraska State Museum
> School of Natural Resource Sciences
> Museum Studies Program
>
> Chair
> Museum Studies Program
> Visit our website at <http://www.unl.edu/museumstudies>
>
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