Northumberland auctioneer tries to sell bird eggs

Hi Kathy, If this wasn't such a serious matter, it could be hilarious that anyone could be so stupid as to try and sell the cabinet/ eggs on such an open market. It is as good as the fellow, who was trying to break into a house and got trapped in a small window and had to call the police, on his mobile, to rescue him.

Hi Brenda

Really...... so there is more to the story than what is mentioned on this link

It sounds although the plot is thickening LOL

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Cannot believe he was not aware of  the prohibition on birds eggs. it has been publisized enough
Be interesting to see what happens at the Court Case.
Expensive lesson learnt no doubt

Hi Birdwatcher

Yes, it an expensive lesson for the Auctioneer, and probably cost him his livehood.

I think the cabinets owner (if he is still around of course) should be the one that is 'facing the music' along with the Auctioneer.

Two people are involved with this issue not just one

All for the sale price of £40 for the cabinet!

Regards
Kathy

Cannot be any excuse but suspect it was a cabinet of eggs from middle of last century and egg collecting then was pretty well done by all boys who lived in the countryside(sounds horrendous now doesn't it)ironically don't think it did any harm as we only found really common birds nests and unwritten rule that we only ever took one egg out of a nest and only took one if we had not got one in collection.Have often wondered if because the birds had less chicks the remainder did really well.Certainly one good spin off was that we learnt a lot about nature and unless there was plenty of eggs in nest we would leave it alone.Think there are bigger catches to be made than these two such as those who target rare birds eggs,now there is a big problem.  

Surely an auctioneer should be aware of what is and is not legal to sell?  I would have thought it would go with the job knowing the legislation restricting the sale of certain items!

KatTai said:

Surely an auctioneer should be aware of what is and is not legal to sell?  I would have thought it would go with the job knowing the legislation restricting the sale of certain items!

Absolutely right.

Ignorance of the law is no defence if you break it. So when it comes to court, he won't have a leg to stand on.

Best wishes Chris

 

Squirrel B said:

I find this puzzling as at an asking price of £40 it is as though he really was only trying to sell the cabinet. What I mean is, if he intended to sell the eggs surely he could/would have asked a far higher figure. The whole thing is rather strange.

Hi Squirrel

Auctioneers often pitch a start price quite low in order to attract bidders. If he only wanted to sell the cabinet, then he should have asked the owner to remove the eggs which legally can't be sold. He is required to know what can and can't be sold by auction.

Best wishes Chris

Hi Chris

I find it all bizarre too.  Does not add up at all.

A news update

The autioneer was fined £1,000

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8597000.stm

.......Railton, a former RSPB member, added: "I can sell a stuffed golden eagle but if that eagle happens to have an egg in the case with it, it is illegal."......

I find this statement hard to take in, but it may be how the press have taken it on board.

Regards

Kathy and Dave