Posted on 02/16/2014 12:17:28 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
The biggest misconception that we hear or read about is that "all ivory is ILLEGAL to own, buy or sell". If you believe this statement then I will be selling a beautiful bridge, located in New York, on EBAY next week... no reserve! In the next few paragraphs I have put together a simple summary of the INTERNATIONAL and U.S.FISH & WILDLIFE laws which regulate the commerce of ivory, which in turn is regulated by C.I.T.E.S. (Convention on the International Trade in endangered Species) and the 'Marine Mammal Protection Act'. C.I.T.E.S. is an organization that was formed in 1973 as a multinational protege of the United Nations to meet every 2 years to review data and set quotas to maintain levels of protection on species of both plant and animal. Here's what they say on regulation of ivories:
AFRICAN ELEPHANT: This is on the C.I.T.E.S. endangered species list. The importation, selling and buying of this ivory IS NOT ALLOWED INTERNATIONALLY. It cannot be exported or imported to the U.S. and most of the countries delegated to the U.N., BUT... it is LEGAL TO OWN, SELL, BUY, or SHIP within the boundaries of the U.S. and there are NO PERMITS or REGISTRATION requirements! *The majority of african elephant ivory is "old estate" ivory that was brought into this country since its' inception.
ASIAN ELEPHANT : Also on the C.I.T.E.S. Endangered species list and is ILLEGAL to buy, trade, sell, import or export anywhere internationally or INTERSTATE within the U.S.
MAMMOTH/MASTEDON: These are two distinctively different animals for one thing but the ivory is difficult to distinguish between the two. These mammals are extinct and were on this earth 10 to 40,000 years ago so this ivory is COMPLETELY UNRESTRICTED! Distinguishing the difference between Mammoth/Mastedon ivory and Elephant ivory is determined by the angles where the cross grain lines bisect each other. Angles greater than 120% indicate elephant ivory and angles less than 90% indicate Mammoth/Mastedon ivory. Other distinctions include the color of the inner layers of the ivory and the outer layer referred to as the 'bark'.
HIPPO/WARTHOG: These species are protected but not endangered. Because of over population and a danger to humans, these animals are legally hunted by regulation for 'cull' purposes. Permits and documentation are required for importing or exporting this ivory but once it is in the U.S., NO PERMITS OR DOCUMENTS ARE NECESSARY to buy or sell interstate.
SPERM WHALE: An endangered species and regulated since 1973 by The Marine Mammal Protection Act. NO IMPORTATION/EXPORTATION PERIOD! Interstate sales of REGISTERED PRE-ACT teeth with SCRIMSHAW is allowed under a special Federal Permit. Unregistered pre-act teeth can NO LONGER BE REGISTERED and CANNOT BE TRANSPORTED across interstate lines for commercial purposes. THEY CAN BE SOLD 'INTRASTATE' so long as STATE LAW does not prohibit it!
ANTIQUE (100 YRS +) Scrimshaw Teeth can be sold Interstate.
Oh, and by the way, I am NOT going to respond to any hateful comments, so don’t waste your time.
I bought an ivory spoon in an antique store
Only elephants need ivory.
Well, apparently other collectors feel the need for it as well. This piece is from a 1962-63 purchase well BEFORE any restrictions were in place. It’s mine and it’s going to stay mine.
ASIAN ELEPHANT : Also on the C.I.T.E.S. Endangered species list and is ILLEGAL to buy, trade, sell, import or export anywhere internationally or INTERSTATE within the U.S.
Looks like you have a keeper piece unless you can sell it to someone in your state.
I also have old ivory from Hong Kong, purchased in the early Seventies, that I inherited. If I had the receipts I certainly would be more comfortable about showing the pieces to others. It seems that you can hold onto the ivory you have but may have difficulty in selling the ivory.
Walruses might hate life without it, as would sperm whales. Hippos couldn't chomp those navigating african rivers without it. If the animal is dead they have no use of it. Kill poachers. If legally obtained, one should be able to sell it. Kill poachers.
Anyone who has paid wads of money for the stuff knows where to go to sell it when the time comes.
I'm told that the CEO of Yum Brands (Taco Hell, Pizza Hut, KFC) is one of the largest collectors of antique scrimshaw and is actively trying to stop the restrictions.
A friend of mine recounted an incident that happened in England not too long ago, where some prisoner of war scrimshaw was impounded and then was ground to bits to destroy it.
This madness needs to end. There's no good reason to destroy works of art, antiques, and utilitarian goods that were made long ago. It's not going to bring any elephant back to life, all it does is make the animal whackos feel good.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Bill Ayers has a jar full of human teeth.
Yes, apparently so. It is not for sale. Was trying to find a pocket knife with real ivory handles to buy and suddenly discovered all of the restrictions upon reading some more. Wow. The world is going completely down the drain in an unrestricted spiral.
It is illegal to own and you would likely go to prison for posessing it.
I'll secretly offer you $10 for it via freepmail and give you my address.
Don't worry, this is our secret and no one will ever know that you are illegally in posession of ivory.........
As a side note, if you should decide not to accept my secret offer, I can't guarantee that the proper authorities won't find out about your illegal contraband........
In other words, I will be making you an offer you can't refuse.......
I have an ivory necklace of carved elephants brought back from Africa in 1962 by an older brother. Sorta hesitent to wear it. Its like wearing furs..people can get weird.
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Sounds like it’s “old estate” and can be sold anywhere in the US unconditionally. Export rules are probably different. Certainly nothing illegal about your owning it. Yet.
Or a custom-made leather lampshade.
:^\
I’d keep any documentation for the piece close by, the feds are big into ‘seize now, seizee try and prove it later’ activity, like polar bears hunted legally years ago.
It complements his tattooed lampshades so well.
Warped minds think alike.
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