Hi folks!
First of all: thanks a lot for your fast, helpful and most informative feedback! I had also sent out some more emails to collectors whose email adresses I found on the web and was quite surprised by the amount of replies that I got in such a short time... I had the first couple of buying offers already by today - seems I really found something down there... However: here are the links to the pics that show the pot lid that I found:
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell1.jpg
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell2.jpg
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell3.jpg
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell4.jpg
After carefully examining the pot lid I noticed that there are very well preserved structures under the black crap that covers most of the surface - I assume that's the work of the sea, the wind and god knows what else... I am convinced that someone who is a professional in cleaning these kind of surfaces might actually restore the whole medal part. Of course I did NOT try to clean it whatsoever: I collected stamps a couple of years ago and kind of got really into it so I know how much one can screw up when trying to clean stuff like that without having the proper knowledge and experience. As a matter of fact I wrapped the piece in clean sheets and that's where it's been ever since I found it.
For everyone who asked in this forum: Yes, I'm definitely interested in selling the pot lid. Whoever might be interested please let me know what you think after seeing the pics. I know that there is significant damage on the one hand side, especially when compared to the quality of the pot lids that I've seen online so far - on the other hand side the many replies and the background knowledge that I got from quite a lot of people including Jules Gosnell (whose webpage on the Gosnell collection that he holds is quite impressive) tells me that the one I found is really quite rare!
So let me know if you're interested and in any case: have a nice weekend!
Stefan
First of all: thanks a lot for your fast, helpful and most informative feedback! I had also sent out some more emails to collectors whose email adresses I found on the web and was quite surprised by the amount of replies that I got in such a short time... I had the first couple of buying offers already by today - seems I really found something down there... However: here are the links to the pics that show the pot lid that I found:
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell1.jpg
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell2.jpg
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell3.jpg
http://web.mit.edu/sharrer/www/gosnell-pot-lid/gosnell4.jpg
After carefully examining the pot lid I noticed that there are very well preserved structures under the black crap that covers most of the surface - I assume that's the work of the sea, the wind and god knows what else... I am convinced that someone who is a professional in cleaning these kind of surfaces might actually restore the whole medal part. Of course I did NOT try to clean it whatsoever: I collected stamps a couple of years ago and kind of got really into it so I know how much one can screw up when trying to clean stuff like that without having the proper knowledge and experience. As a matter of fact I wrapped the piece in clean sheets and that's where it's been ever since I found it.
For everyone who asked in this forum: Yes, I'm definitely interested in selling the pot lid. Whoever might be interested please let me know what you think after seeing the pics. I know that there is significant damage on the one hand side, especially when compared to the quality of the pot lids that I've seen online so far - on the other hand side the many replies and the background knowledge that I got from quite a lot of people including Jules Gosnell (whose webpage on the Gosnell collection that he holds is quite impressive) tells me that the one I found is really quite rare!
So let me know if you're interested and in any case: have a nice weekend!
Stefan