Antique Roadshow: California League Cabinets

[Bill Stone]

I watched it last night and as I recall it was suggested that these might have been stolen from a museum ? Just a hint but I thought at some point he was going to say no value because they were stolen and may be reclaimed at any moment. Did anyone else get this impression?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Bill Stone

I watched it last night and as I recall it was suggested that these might have been stolen from a museum ? Just a hint but I thought at some point he was going to say no value because they were stolen and may be reclaimed at any moment. Did anyone else get this impression?

They were probably deaccessioned. And if indeed they belonged to a museum they would probably have some markings on the back...to me it sounded like the kid probably got them passed down from his family. The images used in the book were probably taken from microfilm that the museum still has.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

John Spalding who wrote the book used in the sequence is very much alive and well. I spoke with him two weeks ago concerning some old guides. I am sure John might have some insight as to where the cabinets came from and how they came into Roadshow?

[Bill Stone]

My dear Watson this could be fun for our group. Deaccaessioning and disposal of materials from a museum usually follows a formal policy and should be well documented. So let's see if we can get a few elementary facts.
Can we start with the propostion that these photos are circa 1887?
If they had been in a museum is it logical that it was probably in California?
Was there a photo credit given in the book?
Just a few inital thoughts --I would think if these were, in fact, deaccessioned there would be a record at the musuem and it could greatly enhance the claim of the owner. Any other facts we can assume?