And building on Martha's message, I found the same three groups in a search of the Associations Unlimited database, along with a mention of the size of their membership (if you want to consider that as a part of "trumping," though I guess quantity doesn't necessarily beat quality):
 
American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
http://www.appraisers.org
6000 members
 
International Society of Appraisers (ISA)
http://www.isa-appraisers.org
1400 members
 
Appraisers Association of America (AAA)
http://www.appraisersassoc.org
600 members
 
Cheers,
 
--Eric
 
 
Eric D. M. Johnson
Proprietor
The Village Factsmith Historical Research & Consulting
http://www.factsmith.com/
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Martha Battle Jackson
To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Appraisers

My favorite site is maintained by Maine Antique Digest; it provides links to 3 appraiser groups:
 
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/appraise/appraise.htm
 
This site has proved beneficial to quite a few potential donors.
 
Martha Battle Jackson, Curator of Technology
North Carolina State Historic Sites
Mailing Address: 4621 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC  27699-4621
Street Address:  532 North Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC  27604
919/733-3877; ext. 236; FAX: 919/733-9515
[log in to unmask]
 
E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
The views expressed by the sender may not reflect those of my agency.
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Simons, Michael A. (Contr)
To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 2:52 PM
Subject: Appraisers

I would like to include a link on my website directing would be donors to a nationwide association of appraisers.  After explaining that I cannot appraise donations.  A quick web search found four groups that claim "American" in their titles.  Is there one nationwide association that trumps the others?

Michael Aurele Simons
Director
Historical Electronics Museum
1745 West Nursery Road
Linthicum, Maryland 21090
(410) 765-3803
[log in to unmask]

========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).