Thread: Auction: Weiss & Son pressed Tortoiseshell

Each can and will do as they please.

The seller suggested checking with your home country's Customs for information about importing restricted materials. I did so, and was surprised enough by the response that I chose to share it.

If someone chooses to bend or circumvent such laws, that's their business. I chose not to. My loss, perhaps...

You did right, just sometimes doing the right thing is a real PITA.

Yikes! I had no idea that it would be such an issue... I simply thought that being a natural material (like horn, bone, or wood) it might be held up by some over-vigilant customs officer. I hadn't anticipated that tortoiseshell might be considered "endangered wildlife".

Thank you cau for looking into this and providing the info.

Can we please consider the auction "ON HOLD" until I've looked into this a little further to establish risks from export and import perspectives. I do not want an unhappy buyer because of Customs, and also don't wish for the export/import to be considered illegal.

My sincere apologies to anyone interested in the item, and thanks again to cau for your time establishing the US position.

ON HOLD

Gents, after researching the issue fully, as I should have done in the first instance (ignorance of the law being no excuse), and as pointed out by cau above, I feel that the only legally and morally responsible action here is to withdraw this listing.

CITES*(the*Convention*on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)*has 183 signatories. It covers both the export and import of goods made from endangered species, and various territories have strict criminal penalties for breaches. Since I don't have the required export papers (and I don't wish for any buyer to be caught foul of import restrictions) I will only be selling locally.

For those who wish to know more about CITES, I found the following EU document which expresses the issues quite well: Guidance for Antique Dealers on the Control of Trade in Endangered Species http://www.culturecommunication.gouv...ed+species.pdf

LISTING WITHDRAWN

Okay,,,, thread is now closed. If you change your mind & want to sell it, please open another thread.