Christof, thanks for the clarification: now I understand what you meant.
However, I'm not sure that the situation you envision would necessarily
represent an actual conflict of interest; if I, as a private poster
collector, am purchasing from the dealer at standard prices, then arrange a
large acquisition for my museum from the same dealer, it might simply mean
that I'm unimaginative, doing all my personal and professional shopping in
the same place.  That would, it seems to me, be simply a variation on my
example of a curator establishing an exclusive arrangement with one dealer
for all museum purchases.  It could constitute favoritism, but it might be
mere laziness.  Either way, it warrants an explanation and full disclosure.

On the other hand, if I'm getting special "frequent-flyer" prices from the
dealer for my personal poster purchases, making a big purchase (or even a
small one, for that matter) from the same dealer for my museum--whether it's
posters or completely different material--should raise eyebrows, and
justifiably so.  That would be tantamount to getting a personal kickback for
arranging a museum purchase.  As a private poster collector, I would be wise
to avoid any appearance of impropriety by not buying other artifacts from the
same dealer for my museum.  If said dealer offers material that I honestly
feel my museum must have, I should be prepared to divulge my personal
connection with the dealer at the time I request the museum purchase,
offering full disclosure of my personal collecting history.  This might well
be a situation in which your personal connection with the dealer is precisely
how you learned about the availability of material which would be of value to
your museum, and an example of how personal collecting can actually be
beneficial to your museum.  But you should be realistic and accept the fact
that someone might be suspicious of your position, and be open and above
board from the outset.  Any attempt to conceal your connection could be
interpreted as evidence of something unethical.

So you raise an excellent point, Christof.  But I think it tends to support
my belief that full disclosure is the key rather than a blanket ban on
personal collecting.  Such a ban, if extended to its logical conclusion as a
sort of zero-tolerance policy, would make it virtually impossible for the
museum employee to "collect" or own anything.

David Haberstich

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