I know its just artwork, but.....

[Gonzai]

Ever since I lost my cel book while travelling, I have been so bummed out,
and for some reason have just lost interest in my whole collection. Can
something like that really change a person's feelings toward something so
much?? >_<

I have called the airlines so many times just to be shot down. I have been
to the airports that I flew out of and into and checked lost and found at
both places, but nothing. I am still so mad at myself for ever even taking
it with me. -_-

Anyway, in case anyone is interested, this is the artwork that was in the
cel book. It was all Hakuouki, and actually some really beautiful sets,
especially the Souji and Saitou sets. Everytime I look at this link, it
just makes me want to cry. ;_;

http://indomitablespirit.rubberslug.com ... esID=45207

Now what I want to know is how I bring myself out of this funk that I
have been in now for almost two months since it happened. Seems to
be getting worse with each passing day. >_<

By the way, if any of you all ever see any of these sets floating around anywhere,
please let me know. I would really like to get my artwork back, if there is any
possibility what-so-ever.

[KT]

We don't know each other, but I'd like to say that I hope things get better for you.

Sometimes life can be cruel. Life sometimes takes away things that are very dear to us. It sucks but it is true. Don't let life beat you down, and don't let what happened suck the passion out of you for this hobby.

Try to surround yourself around positive people, or even a good friend (or friends). Sometimes when you are around the company of good people, they can help make things better.

[moonrabitt]

Well, hopefully someone finds the artwork. If people find a folder, then maybe they will think its worth something, then try to sell it, then you can catch them.

At least the artwork should be in good condition, I guess the person who would understand your type of loss is inferno, such beautiful cels, such tragedy...

[tex-chan]

I hate that you've had no luck at all with the hotels, airports, and airlines that you visited or flew. I am still hopeful that you will get the artwork back. It's so beautiful and was obviously stored in a careful manner. Anyone finding it has to know it was important to someone out there. Or, like moonrabbit mentioned, maybe someone will try to make a buck by selling them and you can catch them that way.

I don't think it's "just artwork". It's something precious and special to you. I would be heartbroken, too, if this had happened to me.

[sensei]

You've likely done everything that's humanly possible to try to relocate the cel book. Alerting this group will help in the long run, as you've made all of us keep an eye out for a collection like this popping up on an auction site. For the rest, you probably need to let the grief process work itself out. A loss like this is similar to the death of a very close friend, and that you can't expect to overcome in a few months. It will take time, and all you can do is be aware that your personal reaction is part of your emotional reaction to injury. You will heal, but it will take time. Don't try to deny the healing process or speed it up, but let it run its course, and stay in touch with friends.

Your story has sobered a lot of us, as did inferno's story of loss. In the long run good will come out of the tragedy, not because it was trivial or a good thing to happen. But just because humanity is stronger than pain.

[ReiTheJelly]

While it may just be paper to others, to collectors like yourself, those sketches mean so much more. I'm very sorry you had this experience. But don't let this get you down! Perhaps fate will bring you some even more exciting artwork in the future!


Out of curiosity - did you have your contact information anywhere in the book?



When I used to travel with my cel books, I would label them with my name, address and phone number. Like this:

Step 1: open the folder so it is completely flat, face down. This will allow you to remove the paper from inside the plastic covering the spine. I'm not sure if other brands have this, but Itoya does.

Step 2: turn the paper over, so that you can write on the blank backside.

Step 3: Write you contact information on one of the flat sides. I usually leave the spine area for numbering my books. I also let people know that I'm offering a reward if they find my cel book. The price I'd pay as a reward depends on what's still inside the book and its condition. I will (obviously) also pay for postage for the person to return it to me.

Step 4: On the inside of the front cover, write your phone number in White Out (or whatever brand of correction fluid you like). I always put this on the inside, so my number isn't visible to everyone I walk by.

Note: I have so many folders now that I also put a unique sticker on the front. Something to help me Identify it. I also tend to write the generic contents on the outside (example: CCS, IY, CotS)

PHOTOS:

[kizu]

Hey ReitheJelly... That's a good idea. I never think to label my books much less offer a reward. I've only traveled with a few pieces of valuable art at a time but if I lost even one of my Saitou cels I'd go nuts...

Gonzai - didn't realize this was the situation you lost those sketches. Sorry for your loss.

[ReiTheJelly]

Hey ReitheJelly... That's a good idea. I never think to label my books much less offer a reward. I've only traveled with a few pieces of valuable art at a time but if I lost even one of my Saitou cels I'd go nuts...

I used to run cel collecting panels at various cons around the country. As I would take multiple Itoya folders, I wanted to instantly recognize which were mine. And I was always in fear of them being stolen, so I wrote that I offered a reward - hopefully to convince the thief to return it to me for easy money.

[Gonzai]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys. I don't know,
I just can't seen to get past being mad at myself. I
had so many chances to prevent this. First off, I should
have never brought them in the first place. Secondly, I
had the book packed in my suitcase that I was checking
and took it out cause I was afraid of losing it. Third, I
had it packed in a box of stuff that I mailed home Fed Ex,
and took it out of there as well for fear of losing it. I
decided that it was better off and more safe coming on
the plance with me. Everything else made it to me safely,
so apparently that was not the case. >_<

So, here I sit kicking myself over and over again for being
so irresponsible. I was tired and had my mind on too many
things, but that still does not excuse this. Seriously, it
makes me feel like I didn't even deserve to own it in the
first place. -_-

Rei, I really like your idea, however, as I was saying, I don't
ever travel with artwork, so I would not have even thought
about it. Bringing it was a last minute decision in the first
place. So, I did not have it marked. Now, to add insult to
injury, I was carrying another collectors hanken sketch in the
book to mail to them when I returned home. They had their
name and address on the folder holding the hanken, but he
hasn't heard anything either. So, not only have I lost my artwork,
but I get to pay him for the artwork I lost of his as well. @_@

So, all-in-all this has just been a horrible experience for me
and has just left me heartbroken and bitter. I can't believe that
someone would have kept it, with a name and address on the
folder holding the hanken, and I can't believe the airlines cannot
find this, given the detailed description and pictures I have
given them. It just makes me lose my faith in people at this
point. >_<

[moonrabitt]

You should not be mad at yourself, you tried everything you could. All you can do is hope for the best and hope someone finds them.
Instead of being mad at yourself, think maybe of a few other things to do, maybe post in creigslist (dont post too much info incase they want to trick you),

Do you know where the book was lost? if so they might be able to check their security tapes (just tell them the book is worth a lot of money), maybe the airline is being lazy and not checking throughly.

Now a days people dont throw things away, they try to squeeze money out of them so they will probably wait a while before they try to resale them, hopefully they try to and we catch them. dont lose hope

[AR-99]

I don’t know if you keep a journal, but putting down your thoughts on paper about the whole experience and what has happened and how you have felt since then may be helpful. Just let yourself flow and say what you need to say without holding back.

I notice too that your gallery is named Indomitable Spirit. This is a loss in your life and you will not forget it, but it will eventually pass. Stay strong.

[JWR]

Yes having lost these items does hurt, but I know you have been through and triumphed over things in the past that make this seem very trivial in comparision.

While it does tick you off to have made a very human mistake it was an accident. Life Lesson learned that I am certain you will never repeat.

So go spend some time with your grandkids and give them extra loving as a penance.

Life is way too short to waste being miserable.

[cutiebunny]

American airline companies really don't care about lost/damaged personal items. There's no reason for them to really care - regulations have been passed that make it incredibly easy for them to get out of pretty much anything. Other areas of the world, like Europe, have far more stringent regulations. And then, when you see how airline employees handle bags as I have seen, you'll never write fragile on any item ever again.

I know I would be completely devestated as well had I lost artwork that I really loved. I can't imagine what I would do if my artwork were stolen simply because I had a moment of carelessness that happens to us all at some point. Just thinking about it makes me really sad and if I were in the same position, I'd have a difficult time coping with it myself.

A lot of this thread feels like Monday-Morning Quarterbacking. A lot of good ideas, but, in the end, you're going to dependent on the mercy of whomever found your stuff. If they're out for a quick buck, they're not going to contact you - They'll sell it to the nearest person who will pay them $20. You're a very saavy collector, and I know you would never lug around a portion of your collection unless you had good reason to do so. And yes, I know what it's like to spend $$$ on artwork and then worry if the USPS will get it safely to you. I did this AX 2008; I sent some pricey stuff back home to myself and although I purchased tracking and lots of insurance, you can bet I was worried that USPS would disregard all the "Do Not Bend" signs and just smoosh it up anyways.

Only once have I brought artwork to a convention to share with other collectors, and even then, I made sure to bring things that I wouldn't have been heartbroken over had I lost. What stops me from bringing stuff now is that, with my spaciness, I know I'm bound to lose something. And I know I'd feel exactly the same way you're feeling now.

I don't know if any of the sketches you lost were your absolute favorite items that you own, but if they're not, I'd try to think about all the awesome stuff you do have and be thankful that it wasn't any of those items that you lost. Things could always be a lot worse, and sometimes, when we suffer a loss in our hobby, like from losing an auction that we really wanted, thinking about everything in the larger picture works wonders.

I hope that, wherever your sketches are now, that they're being appreciated by someone who will enjoy them and care for them.

[Gonzai]

Thanks agin to everyone for trying to cheer me up. I really had hoped that
United Airlines would come through for me, however, doesn't appear like
that is going to happen, and if someone actually did pick it up and take it
with them, I hope they take good care of it, and don't end up trashing it.
The artwork was really quite lovely, and yes it actually was some of my
favorite pieces from that series. >_<

I keep telling myself to look on the brightside, though. At least there was
no Hikaru No Go in the book. Its a little comforting, however, not a lot. -_-