If you have an antique or vintage endangered species item is it illegal to own, even if it was purchased before 1972, or is it only illegal to sell? I just read this article http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SF-vintage-clothing-store-owner-defends-self-over-11027044.php
It is legal to own pre-ESA (pre-endangered species act) products. It illegal to commercially trade or have intent to commercially trade ESA or pre-ESA products for money, services, bartering, or any other sort of gain without permitting or certificates of exemption. You can read more about that here.
So still illegal to sell alligator shoes from the 40s even though there are LOTS of alligators out there and it's legal to hunt them with permits?
Yep. You still have to check with the venues you want to sell through because some like Etsy still do not allow it regardless.
Yup. I believe you are right again. Just checked. American alligator, though there are more of them than people in many areas of the Americas, are considered endangered. At least the shoes in questions aren't sea turtle as someone told me in private convo... oy... I knew that but one reporting incident like that would not bode well, would it?
