I think you have valid concerns regarding Ebay.  However, I think that most
of your
points apply to any accession.

Provenance is always a concern.  If the object has doubtful provenance, then
it probably shouldn't be accessioned, unless there's a pressing need for it
or it's very difficult to come by otherwise.

An Ebay receipt is probably more valid than say, a Certificate of Gift from
a
donor who doesn't have legal title in the first place.  If you would like
you can
probably request an actual paper receipt from most sellers.  You can also
save any credit
card information or money order copies for additional backup.  You will also
have the sellers name and address that can be kept with the accession
paperwork.

Probably the most valid concern is the existence and popularity of fakes.
However, in that case you have to rely on the expertise of your staff and
decide not to proceed if there's any doubt.  Be sure to also check the
seller's
feedback.  You might decide to buy only from sellers with many feedback
postings.
If they're actively selling fakes someone will have hopefully caught it.

Ebay's just a marketplace.  If you've purchased items from collectors or
private
individuals in the past then I don't see the distinction.  I would follow
the same
procedure.  With any accession you'll have to do appropriate research and
documentation.

Kristine Zickuhr
Registrar
Wisconsin Veterans Museum




-----Original Message-----
From: Hugh H. Genoways [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 11:31 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: e-bay ethics


I would like to thank the many of you on the list who responded to my
earlier question about using e-bay to purchase items for your collections.
Your comments were insightful and very helpful to us in deciding on how we
as an institution would move ahead.

There are some staff concerns that still remain.  They are in agreement
with issues that you have raised such as
1.  The provenance on objects is questionable at best.  This is or is not a
problem in many cases depending on the future use of the object.

2.  Concerns about whether archaelogical objects, at least, have been
obtained in an ethical or legal manner.

3.  Many fakes are being offered for sale and that purchasing items on
e-bay has resulted in a "cottage-industry" in manufacturing fakes.

4.   How do e-bay receipts stack up as legal proof of ownership?

Cyndi Edwards raises an interesting point--"I do identify myself with my
screen name on eBay as a museum.  It is
actually kind of interesting to watch what happens next.  Sometimes people
don't like to bid against a museum so the bidding will stay relatively low.
Or depending on the rarity of the item, people will definitely bid against
you."

Given these issues--questions about provenance and ownership, stimulating
production of fakes, legal issues, and maybe altering the nature of the
sale itself--has anyone on your staff raised a question about the ethics of
using e-bay?  Some of our staff are saying do we want to lend our name to
e-bay?  Does using a museum name somehow enhance e-bays image?  Some of
this I think comes from the well publicized problems at Christie's and
Sotheby's.  Or is e-bay the peoples auction house and the answer to these
problems?

Thank you for your time and 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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