For nearly 30 years, Jeff Notkin has traveled the world in search of meteorites, those ancient relics from space that fell to Earth. He shared his adventures in the Science Channel’s Meteorites series and sparked interest in space science and research through lectures and appearances on almost every continent. He was a devoted hunter and collector of meteorites, collecting a large collection. But now, after much deliberation, Notkin has decided to auction off part of his personal collection of meteorites, as well as other personal belongings.
Of course, our first question was why? Is he leaving the meteorite field?
A poster for Jeff Notkin’s Heritage Auctions collection.
“Meteorites were the big passion of my life,” Notkin said on the phone from his home. “But now I would really like to see the collection come out around the world, find new homes and enjoy other people. Some of these unusual, unusual and beautiful pieces have only been seen by the person who collected them, and I don’t think I would do any justice by keeping them in a vault or showcase. These exquisite meteorites deserve to be in the world to be admired. “
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The auction will be conducted by Heritage Auctions, one of the largest auction houses for collectibles in the world, through a live and online auction on June 22, 2022. You can see all the details of this signature on the auction on the Heritage Auctions website. The online auction is now available for bids.
Jeff Notkin is showcasing some of the meteorites in his collection that are up for auction.
Notkin, author, adventurer, photographer and TV presenter and producer of the Telly and Emmy Awards, as well as a meteorite recovery specialist, said he is not abandoning the world of meteorites. He still owns his Aerolite Meteorites store and said he could never turn his back on meteorites.
“I am very grateful to the meteorite field and to all the expeditions I have been on, and I promise to keep some of my few favorites,” he said. “But as we grow and change – and grow old – there are other interests in my life that I would like to devote time to. But new interests don’t mean we have to give up an old interest, maybe just add a new one! ”
Jeff Notkin with his Meteorite co-host Steve Arnold when they discovered a large iron meteorite in Kansas. Image courtesy of Jeff Notkin.
The 136 items in the Jeff Notkin Collection are meteorites from around the world.
“They represent to me many, the most fascinating, the most beautiful and interesting pieces I’ve found, acquired or traded in the last 30 years,” Notkin said. “I hope that some of them can go to university collections or museum collections, because that would make me very happy. The most important thing for me is that they can be seen and enjoyed by the audience. “
“This collection is an extremely important collection, one of the best in the world and one that top collectors have been waiting for years to see,” said Craig Kissick, director of nature and science at Heritage Auctions. “Geoff Notkin is not just a television person who happens to be talking about meteorites. He has spent his life studying meteorites, traveling around the world to collect a collection worthy of display in any museum. His passion and love for meteorites is clear when we look at the range and breadth of this range, especially when we realize that so many specimens in the collection are the most famous examples of this type of size. ”
Here are just some of the items presented in the auction:
End of the Brenham meteorite “Green Brenham”. Palassite found in Kansas, USA (estimated: $ 25,000+). Photo by Heritage Auctions, HA.com NWA 13227 Martian Meteorite. Martian (Shergotite), found in Northwest Africa (estimated at $ 20,000+). Image by Heritage Auctions, HA.com Sikhote-Alin, an iron meteorite that fell on the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in southeastern Russia in 1947 (valued at $ 725.) Image by Heritage Auctions, HA.com
In addition to the meteorites, there are personal belongings, such as Notkin’s own metal detector, the vest he wore during expeditions to photograph the Meteorites, and even his own guitar (yes, he plays!)
Jeff Notkin is hunting meteorites in the Sahara Desert. Image courtesy of Jeff Notkin.
Notkin said several things in his life came together that led him to decide to sell part of his collection.
“The pandemic has given me time to sit still and think,” he said. “And when I enter my 60’s, I remember having a very busy life, a full journey, expeditions, movies and writing scientific literature. I haven’t stopped breathing very often and I realized that I would like to stay still for a while! I’ve been looking for meteorites for almost 30 years and I have so many other interests. So, it is not at all the case that I am bored with meteorites, because I had such a full career in this field. But it’s just time to explore other interests. “
Jeff Notkin is hunting meteorites in a crater in Australia. Image courtesy of Jeff Notkin.
Notkin said he wanted to go back to school and get a master’s degree so he could teach. “I graduated from art school and fell in love with science,” he said. “One of my life goals now is to teach art at the college level.” Notkin also wants to get involved in locally oriented projects such as public theater, working with plant and animal enthusiasts and ecology, and helping to restore natural habitats.
Notkin was first fascinated by meteorites at the age of six when his mother took him to a museum exhibition in the United Kingdom, showing rocks from space. His first thought was that one day he wanted to have his own meteorite.
“My childhood dream has definitely come true!” he said. “My glass of experience is very full and I am infinitely grateful for that. And while I still have a lot of aspiration and enthusiasm for life, travel and adventure, I will explore some new and different areas. ”
Caption: Jeff Notkin catches meteorites in Monturaki Crater, Chile. Image courtesy of Jeff Notkin.
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