[meteorite-list] Meteorite numbers

[Michael Farmer]

To clarify something that is obviously causing some problems in the 
meteorite world right now, I want everyone to know that
NWA 788, 787, and NWA 482 are numbers that came from rather large or 
meteorites with hundreds of pieces bought during one of my expeditions.
The Hupes and many other people have the right to those numbers.
Now, there are other numbers being widely used without proper title (as Dr 
Grossman has stated publicly and with finality that people do not own 
numbers, but numbers are assigned to specific meteorite specimens and must 
not be used with other meteorites just because you heard or someone told you 
it is the same).
Let's all please stop this practice as it is really hurting our business and 
hobby. Virtually every dealer including myself has been or is guilty of 
this, we are in the process of correcting the situation and to start people 
MUST immediately comply or this will just spiral downward as we see tonight.

I perused eBay today and it is still rampant with sellers using numbers they 
seem to have drawn from a hat. So please ask you seller next time you buy 
something, how they got that number, who it was assigned to and if not them, 
just how they came to call it that.
Mike Farmer