HISTORIC METEORITES

Historic meteorites with hand painted museum numbers and old collection labels carry a provenance that increases their monetary value but, more importantly, they provide us with a tangible link to the past — to the collectors, researchers, and meteorite hunters who have gone before us. Historic specimens put us in touch with the early days of meteorite collecting. They are friendly reminders that we are only temporary caretakers of our own collections and that we ourselves will, one day, become part of the chronicled history of these marvelous visitors from outer space.
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H.H. NININGER, GLENN HUSS & THE AMERICAN METEORITE LAB

Seminal meteorite hunter Harvey H. Nininger's extraordinary life was recounted in his thrilling autobiography, Find a Falling Star — a must-read for all meteorite enthusiasts. He authored numerous books, including Out of the Sky, and Our Stone Pelted Planet.

Dr. Nininger created the American Meteorite Laboratory, the original Meteorite Museum on Route 66 near Meteor Crater, and was a founding member of the Meteoritical Society. He recovered hundreds of meteorites and carried out extensive work at Brenham, Kansas; Canyon Diablo (Meteor Crater), Arizona; Toluca, Mexico; and many other locations across the United States and around the world. Harvey's daring, pioneering work was continued by his son-in-law, Glenn Huss, and both men catalogued their meteorite specimens with meticulous hand painted collection numbers. Specimens with Nininger or Huss numbers, or AML labels are extremely rare, come with a fascinating pedigree and are among the most sought-after of meteorites.

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CANYON DIABLO
IAB  First discovered 1891 Coconino Co., AZ
6,373 gram Nininger Collection individual

Spectacular vintage iron with original hand painted H.H. Nininger number 34.5223 and Carl Herfurth Collection provenance. A lovely bronze and ochre patina and remarkable sculptural aspect add beauty to this wonderful historic specimen.

THE OSCAR E. MONNIG COLLECTION

Oscar Monnig was one of the greatest meteorite collectors of all time. A resident of Texas, he was a successful businessman, owned six department stores in Fort Worth was a friendly rival and competitor of H.H. Nininger. When they both showed up in the Leedey strewnfield (L6, fell November 25, 1943, Dewey Co., OK) it was agreed that they would divide the largest mass between them. Oscar and his hunting team recovered Tishomingo, Pena Blanca Springs, Atoka, and scores of other important American meteorites.

Oscar lived to the age of 99 and bequeathed his magnificent collection to Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, where much of it is now on display in the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Gallery — one of America's finest meteorite museums. Glenn and Margaret Huss of the American Meteorite Laboratory cataloged Oscar's entire collection during the 1980s, and they hand painted the collection numbers ("M1.1") which we today associate with the collection. Some of the historic specimens offered here carry an official Monnig Collection number (hand painted by Glenn Huss) and a second number painted by Oscar himself! A double provenance from the collection of one of the legendary personalities in meteorite history.

DIMMITT
H4 Regolith breccia Found 1942, Castro Co, TX
1,207 large stone with collection numbers

Large complete stone with a great shape, thumbprints, natural reddish/orange patina and two vintage hand painted collection numbers: Oscar's personal number 12BZ and Monnig/Huss number M138.144. Accompanied by original Monnig Collection label.   $1,500.00

TOLUCA
IAB Found 1776, Mexico
277.0 grams

New listing Attractive nearly complete Toluca individual with one cut and etched window. Hand painted Monnig #M8.149 and comes with original Monnig Collection ID card. Scale cube is 1/2 inch.
83 mm x 51 mm x 24 mm  
$485.00

TULIA (a)
H3/4 Found 1917, Swisher Co, TX
1,002.8 gram half stone with two Monnig numbers

Massive half stone with polished face, lovely patina, original label and two collection numbers: M.12.8 is the official Huss/Monnig number and 12R painted in Oscar's own hand. A beautiful and striking historic piece.
111 mm x 91 mm x 57 mm   $1,755.00
PLEASE SEE OUR MUSEUM QUALITY SPECIMENS CATALOGUE
FOR ADDITIONAL OSCAR MONNIG MATERIAL
THE WARREN TAYLOR COLLECTION

HISTORY OF THE TAYLOR COLLECTION GIBEONS
During 1971 and 1972 Mr. Taylor, a British geologist, worked in Namibia at the Tsumeb mine. He purchased a most unusual collection meteorites from the wife of a man who had been a bokkie wagter (goat herder) on one of the large livestock farms in the Brukkaros area of Namibia.

This goat herder was member of the Nama tribe. While tending goats belonging to the farmer for whom he worked, he often traveled, on foot, a great distance from home. The landowner sent out provisions for the goat herder, who made small temporary huts of stone and a grass roof for shelter at night. Every so often he returned to the main farmstead where his family lived.

While out in the field the goat herder became interested in strange pieces of iron which he found while caring for the goats. He collected some and kept them under his bed in his various bokkie wagter huts. After the goat herder died of old age his wife traveled out to his huts in order to collect his belongings. While gathering up her husband's few simple possessions, she noticed pieces of iron under his bed. With some difficulty, she carried the irons back to her home on the landlord's farm.

An engineer, and friend of Mr. Taylor's, happened to be repairing the farm's borehole wind pump. He noticed the irons, and knowing of Mr. Taylor's interest in geology and meteoritics the engineer arranged a meeting. Mr. Taylor identified the pieces as Gibeon meteorites, bought all of them from the goatherd's widow, and later shipped them back to Britain, where they remained in his personal collection for many years.

[pictured] Large Gibeon irons on display in the Namibian capitol of Windhoek. Gibeons are now protected under Namibian law and exportation is illegal. These specimens were obtained many years ago, before the ban was enforced.
HISTORIC GIBEONS COLLECTED IN THE 1960s

I was recently lucky enough to acquire some of these lovely Taylor Collection irons. These specimens were collected long before organized hunting of Gibeons began and were all found, by eye, on the surface of the undisturbed strewnfield. Some have been cleaned; some show natural patina; all are accompanied by original Taylor Collection color labels, as well as an Aerolite Meteorites identification card.

A charming story and a lovely piece of meteorite history.

[pictured left] One of my Taylor's original collection labels. Every Taylor Collection specimen is accompanied by one of these color specimen cards.
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GIBEON
IVAB  First discovered 1836 Hardap, Namibia
357.8 grams Taylor Collection with original label

New listing Excellent highly sculptural palm sized individual with lovely character. Displays naturally as shown. Scale cube is 1cm. With original historic Taylor Collection label.
Taylor Collection number 779-G
63 mm x 54 mm x 45 mm  $445.00

GIBEON
IVAB  First discovered 1836 Hardap, Namibia
1,252 grams Taylor Collection with original label

New listing Hefty individual, nearly three pounds in weight with pronounced ridges and an attractive geometric shape. With original historic Taylor Collection label.
Taylor Collection number 781-G
84 mm x 71 mm x 47 mm  $1,250.00

GIBEON
IVAB  First discovered 1836 Hardap, Namibia
1,848 grams Taylor Collection with original label

New listing Excellent large true individual with numerous thumbprints on both faces. Stands up and displays naturally as show. One of the very few Taylor Collection pieces with original patina. Nice.
Taylor Collection number 761-G
124 mm x 91 mm x 57 mm  RESERVED
To order send an email to:   or telephone (520) 742 3333
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