[NHCOLL-L:778] (no subject)

[Paula Hildebrandt]

Regarding your query on assigning dollar values to natural history specimens...please be very, very cautious with this.  Consider the responses you receive and make your decision carefully.  This is a very tricky area.  One does not want to contribute to the enhancement of the market for these objects, black-market or otherwise.  Once people have a reference, they may make inappropriate use of it, something never intended by the original party.  And assigning value for tax purposes is a delicate affair.  Donors always want the maximum value for their tax write-off and the museum wants to remain in their good favor.

If you do not receive informative results through your submission to the NHCOLL list, please contact a few museums directly and get some useful information.  Good luck.

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Paula Hildebrandt             hildeb16 at msu.edu
West Circle Drive             517/432-6205
Michigan State University     FAX 517/432-2846
East Lansing, MI 48824-1045  
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