Antique ivory

sir – Having placed a commission bid on a museum-quality pair of 19thcentury duelling pistols with all their accessories, I am now informed by the auction house that all items within the fitted case containing bone or ivory will be removed and will not be available to the winning bidder.

It is laughable to suppose that this act of legally imposed vandalism will save a single elephant from poachers. One might just as well burn priceless antique books to prevent modern deforestation.

Andrew M Courtney

Hampton Wick, Middlesex