Rembrandt Etching Gets Lost In The Mail

A Rembrandt etching valued at $8,600 was lost in the mail on Thursday and the Norwegian art gallery receiving the etching says it never insured the high-priced item.

Shipped to the Soli Brug Gallery in Greaaker, Norway, Rembrandt’s ‘Lieven Willemsz, van Coppenol, Writing-Master’ had managed to survive since 1658 before falling victim to the post office.

Gallery chairman Ole Derje tells Reuters of the gallery’s decision to cheaply ship the artwork:

“Using a courier or special insurance is quite expensive so we have used regular mail until now.”

Derje adds:

“It is worth around 40,000 to 50,000 crowns ($6,900-$8,600)and the postal service is offering us compensation of 500-1,000 crowns.”

The gallery was waiting for the etching to arrive and after receiving notification that it was ready for pickup the galleries staff soon discovered it was missing from the post office depot.

The post office has since apologized to the seller and they have urged employees at the gallery to use more caution when sending high-valued items through the regular postal service.

Among the art galleries other paintings are works from Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Munch and Dalí. Hopefully if the gallery in Norway sends or receives any more items they end up with a considerable amount of shipping insurance placed on their value.