[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Three sets of Pattern 08'? You have three sets? Hearing that, disadvantaged collectors out there will recoil into a fetal position when they realize that if you, you with more years of collecting experience than 3 average collectors combined, can only come up with three sets, their chances of obtaining a set are, well, rather dismal....

(Cheap shot. Had to do it. Sorry Peter. Get me back at you leasure)

I read the Globe article and heard Ian on the CBC, both of which left the audience with the impression that the loss was of irreplaceable Great War artifacts. Information on Dorosh's site confirms what you suggest...that the items were a combination of originals, reproductions and alterations (I half wondered if the stuff was so scarce because this guy had been acquiring every bit that became available over the last 30 years). $2000 for a set of '08 sounded pretty good even if it was original. My single set. My lonely, one off set is now being re-assessed.