These things have been mentioned on alt.banjo from time to time and I got the general feeling that most people reckoned it made no difference and I'm sure I read mention that you can you run the risk of getting real (illegal) ivory sold as fossilised ivory...

The last time it cropped up was in a thread starting with something to do with tortoishell. I find this post particulary interesting and perhaps of relevance at least to the areas, tweed, John In Kansass, etc seem to be getting into.

Jon