A Norwegian art gallery lost a Rembrandt etching worth up to €6,800 in the post after trying to save money on courier and insurance costs.
The Soli Brug Gallery in Greaaker, about 80km south of Oslo, purchased a copy of Rembrandt’s Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol, Writing-Master, made in around 1658, from a British dealer, only to have it lost in the Norwegian postal system.
“Using a courier or special insurance is quite expensive so we have used regular mail until now,” Ole Derje, the gallery’s chairman said.
“It is worth around 40,000 to 50,000 crowns (€5,400-€6,800) and the postal service is offering us compensation of 500-1,000 crowns (€68-€136).”
A postal service spokesman expressed regret that the item had been lost but urged its users to always insure rare items and use the appropriate form of post. – (Reuters)