[meteorite-list] Fraud or Stolen meteorites in Tucson ???

[Greg Hupe]

Hello Peter, Mike and List Members,

In light of what has been said publicly and privately regarding the "stolen" 
meteorites and Allan and Iris Lang's meteorite auction, lets examine this 
very carefully.

Mike Farmer earlier today announced that the three meteorites which Achim 
Karl bid on and won at the live Lang auction on Saturday, February 3rd were 
stolen. Mike did this in order to help the Lang's and Achim so we, as a 
community, could try to find the described meteorite specimens and the 
"culprits" who perpetrated the "theft". The Monday after the auction (two 
days ago), Achim went to pay for and take possession of the three lots he 
won and was told in front of several well known and respected List and IMCA 
Member witnesses by Allan and Iris Lang that the three auctions he won were 
stolen. These auctions were; Bjurbole Lot #6 14.89 grams with old museum 
labels, Gorlovka Lot # 19  2.79 grams with old museum labels and Luotolax 
Lot # 34 3.2 grams.

Peter Marmet then posted to the List an email he received from Iris Lang on 
Monday (see below) that he won four auctions. Two of these listed are the 
very same auction specimens that Achim was told the same day in front of the 
witnesses were "stolen". I was told the third "stolen" specimen was sold to 
another very well respected collector for more than twice the hammer price 
it "sold" for at the live auction. How can they be stolen and then re-sold 
on the same day??

To clear up any rumors or otherwise, I think it is in the best interest of 
the entire meteorite collecting community to know the final hammer price of 
the three "stolen" lots Achim won. Since this was a live auction similar to 
Michael Blood's, all who attended would know of any absentee bidding and the 
final hammer price whether the bidder was there in person or an absentee 
bidder.

I think it would also be a good idea for Peter and the other winner to speak 
up here in public because it sounds to me like they have been unknowingly 
taken advantage of and should announce any wrong doing. This is no time to 
be quiet by what looks like a disgusting abuse of trust and a gross display 
of greed!

Greg


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Marmet" <p.marmet at mysunrise.ch>
To: "Meteoritenliste" <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 5:35 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Stolen meteorites in Tucson ???


> WHAT???
>
> This is the e-mail that I got from Iris Lang on Monday:
>
>
> rockman at twcny.rr.com wrote:
>>
>>
>> Original Message:
>> Dear Peter Marmet,
>>
>> You won the following bids at the Tucson auction:
>>
>> Lot # 6  Bjurbole  14.89 grams   for $....
>>
>> Lot # 34 Luotolax  3.2 grams for  $....
>>
>> Lot # 38 Mighei  0.69 grams for $....
>>
>> Lot # 52 Quenggouk  2.9 grams  for $....
>>
>> Allan will be home within a week.  Please e-mail him to make
>> arrangments
>> for payment.
>> You can pay by credit card or check.  Please add shipping and
>> handling cost.
>>
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Iris Lang
>> http://www.nyrockman.com
>>
>
>
>
> Michael Farmer wrote:
>
>> I want to inform the list about 3 stolen meteorite
>> from the Al Lang Auction in Tucson.
>> Achim Karl was the high bidder on 3 meteorites which
>> were stolen from the display cases just after the
>> auction. They are:
>> Bjurbole, Lot #6 14.89 grams with old museum labels.
>> Gorlovka, Lot # 19  2.79 grams with old museum labels.
>> and Luotolax, Lot # 34. 3.2 grams.
>>
>> These are rare items which the photos can be seen on
>> Al Langs website
>> www.nyrockman.com/tucson-auction-2007.htm
>>
>>
>> Anyone seeing these pieces for sale or who has any
>> inoformation can contact myself or Achim Karl (the
>> rightful owner) at achimkarl at aol.com
>>
>> Many other meteorites were also stolen in Tucson,
>> Mohammed again lost around 50-60 kilos of complete
>> stones, and Karl Sprich from South Africa lost many
>> kilos of Gibeon slices and a large Campo del Cielo
>> with a natural hole.
>>
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>>
>
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