The first cataloged specimen in the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Collection, which had ostensibly been lost until Blaine Reed acquired it, noticed the peculiar stamp markings and correctly identified its place in meteorite history. To my knowledge, this specimen is the only Deport that Monnig ever cut.

A story that should not be left untold, is one of the class of Reed, a top meteorite dealer for the past quarter century. Reed offered the 306.4-gram end section at auction in Tucson, February 2011, where I acquired it -- at a premium due to the history it represents. At the time, Reed had no knowledge of the existence of the 244.9-gram specimen, but some three months later he discovered it in a subsequent lot he purchased from the same former friend of Monnig's who had previously sold him the larger end section. It then became clear that the prime "-" symbol on the larger half had been intentionally placed (to indicate the largest portion of the meteorite), and it was also clear that the pieces were meant to be cataloged as one specimen by Monnig. That said, Reed had every right to make the smaller end section available for sale on the open market. But he didn't. He called me immediately and simply said he was shipping it to me right away so that the pieces would be back "together, where they belonged." I look forward to acquiring more specimens from Reed soon, although that isn't why he did what he did. He did it because it was the proper thing to do, and I can only wonder if many others would have done the same. I'll expand on this story after my research on this specimen is complete, but Reed is also responsible for having recognized the provenance of these and some four dozen other stamped specimens from Monnig's earliest collecting days that were offered for sale to him as "Odessa" meteorites. If you're looking for a reputable meteorite dealer beyond reproach, reach out to Blaine Reed in Delta, Colorado, USA.

The kilo-plus specimen at page bottom is the most spectacular I've seen from this series, although it's proven impossible to photograph with my weak skills behind the lens.

You can read more about the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Collection in the Tricottet Collection's Biographical Archive of Oscar E. Monnig (1902-1999).