Bit Of A Grim Task... Need Your Help

[Miss Wiggle]

right, i'll start out by apologising if this topic upsets or offends anyone, i'm not exactly delighted to be lumbered with this as it is but i'll just explain the situation.

my mum's been going through some of my nan's old stuff, tkaing it to charity, selling the antiques etc etc, she came across a handbag and doesn't know what to do with it.

it's some sort of lizard type skin and it's real, we don't know what it is, and we need to so we know what's best to do with it.

taken a couple of pics, not brilliant, but i'd really appreciate it if someone could help provide an ID on the skin.

I'd really appreciate it if we could avoid a full scale epic on the ethics of owning this, just to re-iterate, neither myself or my mum bought or want this.... i do think it's horrible to walk around with it on your arm and i wouldn't do it myself, however i know sometimes charities like PETA may accept donations of things like this to use a demonstration materials, or we could maybe donate it to a museum?? i'm really stuck and just trying to help my mum figure out what it is so we know who to contact and what to do with it.

she thinks it's a waste to just throw it away.

so anyway here goes with a few pics, if you know what it is can you let me know, thanks

edit: and sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, wasn't sure if i should at all or where to put it

 

[moray]

I would say it is probably some sort of crocodilian though I'm not sure, the size of the scales are large so it has to be one of the larger reptiles, so that would be my guess.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I would say it is probably some sort of crocodilian though I'm not sure, the size of the scales are large so it has to be one of the larger reptiles, so that would be my guess.

that was our thought too, thanks moray

 

[black angel]

You would need to get it authenticated to see if it is real, though it looks it to me.
Try an antiques dealer to see. Does it have a label anywhere in it? If it is real then i think its worth a lot of money if it can be sold as an antique.
Looks like a rattlesnake

 

[Miss Wiggle]

You would need to get it authenticated to see if it is real, though it looks it to me.
Try an antiques dealer to see. Does it have a label anywhere in it? If it is real then i think its worth a lot of money if it can be sold as an antique.
Looks like a rattlesnake

it's definately real, you can tell by feeling it.

no label or brand anywhere.

it might well be worth money, we contemplated selling it and donating some of the money to charity mostly to ease our conscience

rattlesnake?? hadn't thought of that one, i thought the scales were a bit big for snake?

 

[black angel]

You can get big snakes.
You didnt buy it so dont feel guilty about it.
You could maybe donate some of the money to a reptile rescue centre. I dont know if theres many people that would buy it as its not pc to be seen with anything once alive is it.
I think an antiques dealer or three to get different prices on it and then take it from there.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

You can get big snakes.
You didnt buy it so dont feel guilty about it.
You could maybe donate some of the money to a reptile rescue centre. I dont know if theres many people that would buy it as its not pc to be seen with anything once alive is it.
I think an antiques dealer or three to get different prices on it and then take it from there.

aye, i've been browsing ebay for similar stuff, there's still a fair bit of trade in this sort of thing it seems, loads on there and fetching reasonable prices.

thanks

 

[severum boy]

Id say it was a large boa, maby a Boa constrictor. Looks the right colour and scale size.