If it is someone descended from the indigenous peoples of North or South America, I will help with their legal bills
Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
11–20 of 36 posts
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#12> One of the most valuable art collections in Europe isn't housed in a museum visited by millions of tourists, but in this warehouse in the back of his police station. It's basically an evidence locker for stolen artifacts. This is a Caravaggio. What does a Caravaggio go for these days? It is millions of dollars. It is a paint stolen at the end of 1990 and was from a private house. What's not explained is why are pol…
Why do you think there’s an agenda? The article talks about returning the stolen letters to their owners, so it’s not like the police are unwilling to repatriate stolen goods. Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners or there are conflicting claims? And what do you do with antiquities like an ancient amphora? Who knows where it came from originally, so who do you return it to?
> Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners
For unknown owners, fine. But they know where the Caravaggio came from. The article says, "Giovanni Prisco: Yes, and it is a paint stolen at the end of 1990 and was from a private house. It was discovered in the north of Italy."
I'm reading that as saying that it was stolen from someone's private house and that it was recovered somewhere else in the north of Italy.
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#13Sounds almost like a plot from National Treasure (2004). Except it's Columbus letters instead of the Constitution. How rich was Columbus?
Declaration of Independence was what Nic Cage had to steal.
He just had to..
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#14Inspired by Lee Israel[0][1], perhaps?
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#15When combined they yield a treasure map
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#16Sounds almost like a plot from National Treasure (2004). Except it's Columbus letters instead of the Constitution. How rich was Columbus?
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/christopher-colu... "Although Columbus enjoyed a substantial revenue from Hispaniola gold during the last years of his life, he repeatedly attempted (unsuccessfully) to gain an audience with King Ferdinand, whom he felt owed him further redress." So I'm thinking - well off, but not wealthy.
I don’t recall how wealthy he was, but the claim that he pursued was a percentage (15% comes to mind, but don’t quote me) of all revenues generated by Spain in the New World.
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#17Probably Hobby Lobby’s owners. They’ve been known to pay for stolen historical objects.
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why do you think there’s an agenda? The article talks about returning the stolen letters to their owners, so it’s not like the police are unwilling to repatriate stolen goods. Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners or there are conflicting claims? And what do you do with antiquities like an ancient amphora? Who knows where it came from originally, so who do you return it to?
> Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners For unknown owners, fine. But they know where the Caravaggio came from. The article says, "Giovanni Prisco: Yes, and it is a paint stolen at the end of 1990 and was from a private house. It was discovered in the north of Italy." I'm reading that as saying that it was stolen from someone's private house and that it was recovered somewhere else in the north of…
Perhaps the person from whom it was stolen can't prove they owned it legitimately? I expect stealing stolen goods has higher odds of not being reported so lower risk for the thieves. That said, stealing from people who might own stolen expensive art might not be the smartest thing to do... :)
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#19If it is someone descended from the indigenous peoples of North or South America, I will help with their legal bills
Why would they and why would you want them to? Wouldn't anyone related to the people Columbus was accused of genociding in the Caribbean want the historical record of who he was preserved?
Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why do you think there’s an agenda? The article talks about returning the stolen letters to their owners, so it’s not like the police are unwilling to repatriate stolen goods. Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners or there are conflicting claims? And what do you do with antiquities like an ancient amphora? Who knows where it came from originally, so who do you return it to?
> Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners For unknown owners, fine. But they know where the Caravaggio came from. The article says, "Giovanni Prisco: Yes, and it is a paint stolen at the end of 1990 and was from a private house. It was discovered in the north of Italy." I'm reading that as saying that it was stolen from someone's private house and that it was recovered somewhere else in the north of…
That was nearly 30 years ago, maybe that owner is long dead and it's not clear who the rightful heir is?