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Posted By: barrysloate

Jimmy- I am acutely aware of it.

In 1922, shortly after the New York Public Library received the collection (Spalding died in 1919), the entire contents were catalogued. I have a copy myself of the 1922 inventory.

At some point around 1990, a new list was created that cites the pieces missing since the original was drawn up. During one of my trips to see the collection, I took a look at the updated list. It's tragic to see what is missing. I can't remember specifically but every purloined item was historically significant.

I believe that any museum or institution that allows the general public to handle valuable items has suffered the same fate.