Q: "I've noticed you are really buying a lot of art off ebay...is that were you are getting your old references?" A: Who are you calling old? Well, yes and no. It is true I am buying tons of ferret-related stuff off ebay, but not for the references. In most cases, I am ALREADY am aware of the reference, but may not have a suitable copy of the artwork. Artwork is very difficult to photocopy, and some older books are so fragile libraries allow you to view them, but do not allow them to be pushed flat against the glass of a copy machine. I consider obtaining the materials a type of salvage operation, since all historic ferret materials in my posession are willed to the Smithsonian or the National Archives. I am writing the first, extensive history on the domesticated ferret, using historic archaeological techniques. One of those techniques is to use secondary and tertiary references to prove the knowledge and existence of ferrets within a community where the existence of the animal may be in dispute. For example, in the United States, the state of California suggests ferrets have only in the country since the 1880s, the time of the organization of the first ferret farms in New York, New Jersey and Ohio. However, I have ample evidence that ferrets were in the USA since at least 1770 (and implied evidence from even earlier). For example, I have a hand-writen letter from 1866 asking a person in Connecticut to sell a pair of ferrets for ratting. Imagine the wall of your den lined with file storage boxes stacked nine rows long and six boxes high, with perhaps another couple of boxes worth of files piled on top. Those boxes, which would fill nearly 10 4-drawer file cabinets, are completely filled with ferret references! I once showed Linda Iroff a limited Excell file (20 references only for illustrative purposes) that held a complete JPG scan of the reference, as well as EXTENSIVE indexing of the contents. That file is now fills more than 18 CDs, allowing me to reference ALL historic materials within a few seconds notice, and is formated to Excell, Filemaker, and Endnote. I am currently working on extending the indexing to include veterinary references (I have hundreds of historic vet references already included) and related zoological materials. I am including the information in the many ferret newsletters that are mailed to me, as well as donations by my many friends. When I finish, the file will contain ALL references (currently 10,000+), burned to PDF files, JPGs, and contained in Endnote, Excell, Word, and Filemaker formats, all cross-referenced and indexed. THAT is what is being donated to the Smithsonian and National Archives, along with all originals. It is the least I can do considering what ferrets have given to me. Be kind when bidding against me on eBay. Bob C [Posted in FML issue 3983]