Stan the T.rex sells for $31.8 million at auction

[EarthboundEiniosaurus]

For reference, Sue was bought by The Field Museum for $8.36 million ($13.5 million when adjusted for inflation). While the identity of the winning bidder isn't currently known, it's most likely not a museum and instead a private collector.

Link to a NY Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/arts/design/seen-jurassic-park-t-rex-skeleton-brings-31-8-million-at-christies.html

[Dinoxels]

This is very sad news.

[ceratopsian]

What hope is there for museums in this climate?  Many can't afford to keep on their staff, let alone shell out that sort of money.

[Shonisaurus]

I understand that a private collector of dinosaur skeletons does not have the ability to have perfectly preserved the skeleton of what a Museum can do, sincerely the sale of skeletons on as important as that of that tyrannosaurus should be regulated. It is outrageous for a private collector to acquire it, especially when there are only more than 30 tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the world.

[suspsy]

This is sickening. Not only is Stan lost to paleontological research, but now even more people will be encouraged to dig up fossils without any regard for science. It'll just be about making a big profit. This is a major loss for paleontology.

[Nanuqsaurus]

Very, very sad news. Fossils like these should be in a museum (or in the ground), not in some rich dude's private possession. I hope Stan eventually finds his way back to a museum in the future, where everyone can see him or study him if they want to.

[RobinGoodfellow]

In many Countries worldwide, selling fossils to private people is illegal.. 

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I hope it is at least staying in America. Even if the buyer wasn't a museum, it could still be loaned or donated to one.

If the final bidder called into London then maybe we can hope it's going to be donated or loaned to the NHM? I know I said I hope it's staying in America but the London NHM is probably the best there is and doesn't have a tyrannosaurus rex.

Either way, it's just wishful thinking on my part.

[Loon]

Disgusting. I can't really think of anything else to say about it. If this is a private individual, I can see why this clown's name hasn't been revealed. Spending nearly $32 million on a dinosaur during a pandemic, not to mention at a time when more and more people are starting to take notice of the world's inequalities, is probably not, as the kids say, a "good look".

[MLMjp]

Question: Why it was being sold in the first place?

Was the Black Hills Institute in a bad financial situation and they had to?

[EarthboundEiniosaurus]

Question: Why it was being sold in the first place?

Was the Black Hills Institute in a bad financial situation and they had to?

It seems it's included in a settlement agreement with one of their shareholders, which appears to be the main cause.

Another article that helps provide a little more context on the situation and its potential implications: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/stan-t-rex-auction-sale-31-8-million-sets-record-ncna1242410

[Dynomikegojira]

Sad shame I just don't see what a private collector would even need with a fossil besides having it sit there like a trophy. Very disappointing to think of all the other specimens sitting in private collection whose scientific potiential could be explosive.

[Faelrin]

I too am disappointed with this, and can only hope it will surface in some museum at some point. What a real shame, and loss to paleontology it would be for one of the most complete T. rex specimens to just sit in some private collection instead. I can't say I'm too surprised about this after seeing it was being auctioned off however though.

[ITdactyl]

Unless you can demand a change in legislature so that fossils in private land also belong to the Federal Government (similar to the "shared cultural heritage" laws of Mongolia), I doubt this trade will end.  Then again, that idea is also a double edged sword - if private land owners can't "own" a fossil in their property, then this will likely just grow the black market or worse, create a total disregard for fossils - so much that land owners will gladly develop their properties without regard for how many valuable fossils are destroyed in the process.

Are you familiar with the concept of private entities "saving" sinking companies by investing in them, not for altruistic intentions but because they'll also have more to gain from that transaction? First off, yes, 31.8M USD IS an obscene price that is unlikely to be matched by any museum at this time. But a private entity making that purchase and then loaning Stan to a museum for dividends isn't entirely wrong or immoral (IF this happens at all).

I am aware this is just arm waving on my part but everything said about what the supposed private collector would do to the Stan specimen is also just that - theories about rich guys twirling their moustache, raising their gin glass while laughing evilly.

I believe we all want this kind of trade to end but at this time when clean money is at a premium and museum funds are at the bottom of the priority list, this'll just be par for course until new legislation is passed.  I'm curious though, what do you think would've happened to Stan if the BHI hadn't put it up for auction?

[austrosaurus]

Question: Why it was being sold in the first place?

Was the Black Hills Institute in a bad financial situation and they had to?

BHI is a mercenary organisation and not a genuine scientific institution; they're the ones that sold Sue, after all.

[GojiraGuy1954]

This is sickening. Not only is Stan lost to paleontological research, but now even more people will be encouraged to dig up fossils without any regard for science. It'll just be about making a big profit. This is a major loss for paleontology.

Stan has been studied to death and there are a bunch of casts of him. We'll be fine.

[E.D.G.E. (PainterRex)]

This is sickening. Not only is Stan lost to paleontological research, but now even more people will be encouraged to dig up fossils without any regard for science. It'll just be about making a big profit. This is a major loss for paleontology.

Stan has been studied to death and there are a bunch of casts of him. We'll be fine.

This was never the point of people being upset about this. It doesn't matter how well-studied something is, it's now lost. No one can go back and corroborate anyone else's work on Stan anymore.

[stargatedalek]

This is sickening. Not only is Stan lost to paleontological research, but now even more people will be encouraged to dig up fossils without any regard for science. It'll just be about making a big profit. This is a major loss for paleontology.

Stan has been studied to death and there are a bunch of casts of him. We'll be fine.

This is exactly why collectors should be fine with purchasing a cast.

Frankly, I think we need to normalize commercially available casts. As-is they can cost near as much as many actual fossils, and sometimes are less available. If we make them available for reasonable cost it could take a big chunk out of this market.

[Lanthanotus]

This is sickening. Not only is Stan lost to paleontological research, but now even more people will be encouraged to dig up fossils without any regard for science. It'll just be about making a big profit. This is a major loss for paleontology.

Stan has been studied to death and there are a bunch of casts of him. We'll be fine.

This is exactly why collectors should be fine with purchasing a cast.

Frankly, I think we need to normalize commercially available casts. As-is they can cost near as much as many actual fossils, and sometimes are less available. If we make them available for reasonable cost it could take a big chunk out of this market.

It`s the world we live in.... if you got the money, would you rather have a Ferrari Body with a VW motor or the real thing, despite never being able to drive it to its maximum? I do not think availability would solve the problem about fossil sales.... there will be always people who want something extravagant to show off ... and a cast is... well, a copy and not extravagant.

[BlueKrono]

This is sickening. Not only is Stan lost to paleontological research, but now even more people will be encouraged to dig up fossils without any regard for science. It'll just be about making a big profit. This is a major loss for paleontology.

Stan has been studied to death and there are a bunch of casts of him. We'll be fine.

This is exactly why collectors should be fine with purchasing a cast.

Frankly, I think we need to normalize commercially available casts. As-is they can cost near as much as many actual fossils, and sometimes are less available. If we make them available for reasonable cost it could take a big chunk out of this market.

It`s the world we live in.... if you got the money, would you rather have a Ferrari Body with a VW motor or the real thing, despite never being able to drive it to its maximum? I do not think availability would solve the problem about fossil sales.... there will be always people who want something extravagant to show off ... and a cast is... well, a copy and not extravagant.

If you're looking to show off probably 99% of people couldn't tell the difference between a cast and an original, and it would be lighter and easier assembly. Casts would be perfect for rich folks who want a T. rex skeleton in their front entryway. The only reason I could think of someone wanting an original fossil is exclusivity, but then they'd also have to ensure no casts were ever made too.