> In a message dated 9/21/2004 9:12:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> gpvb1@comcast.net writes:
>
> << alledged provenance.... >>
>
To which Dale B. replied:
> That reminds me ( maybe Brett Horton is the guy to answer this) but what
> constitutes valid provenance? In the REALLY sophisticated world of collecting,
> provenance must have a fairly structured status. In other words, "you telling me
> that some guy told you that Bartali rode this bike in the 1942 Giro" obviously
> don't cut it. But what constitutes valid provenance to someone like a big
> auction house or a focussed collector?
> Seems like almost nothing I have seen in the vintage bike world has much real
> proof attached as to that item's confirmable history...
>
> Just a-wondering...................
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, NC
It's a very valid question. With few exceptions (did y'all see Lance's "travel" Caloi (Merckx) frameset sell recently on eBay for $5000?), I tend to ignore alledged provenance of bikes (particularly on eBay). If it's an item being offered by a CR list member that I know and trust, that would be a whole different story. There's a whole lotta bologna out there in general, though....
Brett? Your thoughts?
Greg-issimo Parker
Dexter, Michigan