Just a note on this subject of museums selling donated items.  A close
friend with a 1914 Stanley steamer had a bad experience with a big
county museum.  As my attorney advised me when making several such
donations myself:

 "In the document for transferring the item to the museum, always have
  a clause that if the institution goes broke, or has to sell off items
  to keep the staff paid and the doors open, or dispose of items for
  any other reason, _always_ have a clause that should this occur then
  the donated item is returned to the original owner or someone of his
  choosing.

 "_And,_ always get this in writing and signed by the senior
  management in every case.  [It should be signed] by someone with
  sufficient authority that if they try to sell the item, you have
  clear legal means to sue them in court."

This is if the item is donated for a tax write-off, otherwise let the
museum have it only on loan.

Jim Crank

 [ MMDigest articles on this subject are indexed at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/D/donating.html  -- Robbie