[meteorite-list] Tucson 06 !!

[Bob Evans]

Hello List,

Back from 4 days at the show. It was a great time, beautiful weather and 
plenty of dealers with plenty of meteorites to peruse. I can say that after 
only a few years of collecting its not easy to find the next perfect 
specimen for my collection. I like oriented stones so that makes it more 
difficult.
Mike and Erics room had the best stuff as usual , but that also came with 
higher prices. If you had $10 K to spend that would be the best place to get 
a phenomenal piece to add to your collection. I found some nice inexpensive 
chondrites in ETs room. Thanks E. T. !
If you stop there be sure to try his meteorite chocolates. The best 
chocolates I have tasted and he makes them himself.
I stayed with Bob Cucciara and Chi Town Steve. Thanks to both especially Bob 
for the place to crash.
Steve ........... thanks for all the entertainment. I think you did more 
purchasing, selling and trading than all of the meteorite dealers combined.
It was really tough finding killer deals. Even the Moroccans were somewhat 
reluctant to give into haggling of prices.
But , it was alot of fun to search around for nice stones hidden in dealers 
boxes who were basically separated from the main meteorite dealer locations. 
I did find a few nice ones at dirt cheap prices.

The Michael Blood auction is always fun and seems to be growing every year. 
I think there were over 200 people there and there were some deals to be 
had. I did talk to a dealer from California the next day ( cant remember his 
name ) . He suggested that there should be a separate person working at the 
auction to accept payment for the auctions that you won at any time during 
the auction. If you were done bidding you could check out at any time.
Apparently he was with some people who were done bidding at 8 pm , but had 
to wait till midnight to pay for and receive the pieces that they won. Makes 
sense to me. Please Take note Michael !! I know its one more person on the 
payroll. But it would probably get everyone out of there earlier.

Well, after 2 days of looking for a new collection piece I finally found a 
nice oriented Juancheng 940 grams in Blaine
Reeds room.
It pays to keep moving around and looking. Thanks Blaine, Sorry Mike, I know 
you would have liked to get that one.
I did manage to get a endcut of Pierceville from Bob Haag which is a iron 
from Kansas found in 1917.

Here is a photo of the oriented Juancheng :
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/spacerox2001/album?.dir=/ffd2

Well as fun as it was its great to be home with my beautiful wife and kids.

See ya next Year !!

Bob