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Meteorites
Archaeological
finds and historic descriptions show that meteorites were venerated by
many peoples and in all ages.
And
even today, enhanced by the light of recent scientific insights, one can
hardly resist the fascination of these stones and irons from space:
Their characteristics
and composition, which set them apart from terrestrial rocks, their
immense age, that leads us back to the days of origin of our solar system,
the spectacular phenomena associated with their falls, their rôle in the
formation of the Earth and their influence on the development of life -
such a meteorite is, after all, a formidable memento mori, for the impact
of a major mass, with the associated liberation of energy and the
resulting catastrophic consequences, represents a constant, real threat to
the continued existence of mankind -,
to name but a few aspects.
(I have
drawn up a list of introductory literature in German under Links,
Books & Dealers).
Despite
their rarity and their scientific relevance - which is unbroken, even in
our age of space travel and exploration - meteorites are accessible
not only to an exclusive circle of specialist collectors, but also
comparatively affordable for those who appreciate such extraterrestrial
matter for one reason or an other, be it for their high symbolic content
or on esoteric grounds.
What they
all share in, however, experienced collector and somebody who may call but
one meteorite their own alike, is the amazing feeling of possessing an
object which, in this world of ours that has grown so small these days,
stems from where never man set foot before, and of being able to touch
what, literally, is "not from this world".
A few
brief words on myself
Like so many others before, I have fallen under the spell of meteorites
through amateur astronomy.
My
other great passion is collecting astronomical writings and prints
from all centuries, in particular of baroque star maps, and as a
student of medieval language literature, my interest is bent upon research
into astronomical manuscripts of the middle ages, with a main focus on the
planispherical astrolabe.
Well, in
order to extend my collections, I am now giving my debut as "a dealer
of distant worlds".
And
therefore I consider myself a collector rather than one of the
narrowly professional dealers who have to be intent on maximizing their
profits.
I think,
however, that I don't have to say much about my price level - I rather
leave that up to your own personal evaluation.
For I
would like to strongly advise you to always compare prices
thoroughly before buying a meteorite!
After
all, the purchase of a meteorite usually represents an investment of some
size and comparing the offers is always worthwhile, as there are quite
significant price differences on the market.
(You'll
find a list of European dealers as well as a link to the Dealers' List
under Links, Books
& Dealers).
-
Anyway, I am hoping for your support in my efforts of making available an
ever larger spectrum of meteorites at prices as low as possible to those
who are interested in them, and of publicising further economical sources
of supply.
This is it.
And
before you'll now stroll on to examine my display, I'd like you to share
with me in the enthusiasm of Franz Ritter von Kobell (from: Meyer`s
Volksbibliothek, Vol.41, ca. 1845)
"For
how long many a meteor stone may have flown his circular flight as a small
descendent of a planet, through the midst of the immense masses of the
great regents of the skies, what revolution may have torn him away into
the wide, strange stellar space and have separated him from his mother
Ceres or Pallas or whatever her name, how many things may have befallen
him during his voyages through those dizzy heights, which man can hardly
comprise in their extent, except for those moments of sublime feeling,
which at the same time make him bough to HIM who hath created and disposed
as HE pleaseth?!
Such
are the thoughts that rise in us, as we look at the
black,
mysterious stone, which now lies cold and motionless in our cabinets and
which, methinks, in bright nights, when he sees the distant stars
twinkling outside, may yearn back to the times of his freedom with its
audacious flights, that he relished in." |