To those who responded to the filed lip question.
Everyone should use ISGS which is found in almost every shell book, in
describing shells for sale/trade.  Many dealers use a modified ISGS and
grade shells as F+++.  This could lead to confusion as just what is wrong
with it.
Filing a lip could hide several chips and much roughage, so that the shell
should really be considered Gd or (F-- -- -- --)  Dealers should describe to
customers the exact condition.  (We do) .  Even though a beach shell looks
perfect and might have a high grade it should be known that it IS a beach
specimen.
Remember!   Dealers also get fooled sometimes.
Mique

For all your shell specimen collection needs,
visit Mique's Molluscs online at http://www.miquesmolluscs.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Grebneff <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2002 6:05 AM
Subject: Re: R: filed lip


>>What a lot of rubbish this filed lip nonsense, if the specimen is new to
>>your collection great. to get perfect specimens means overcollecting and
>>possible elimination of the species, is this what you want? for goodness
>>sake lets get to reality and be thankful if you can get a specimen for
your
>>collections which you do not have.
>>
>>Kev
>
>How about a nice Spondylus with filed margins...
>
>I would much rather my specimens have chips than filed lips. Period.
>Even a "lip" which is 100% chip. I note that some dealers who claim
>to not sell filed shells in fact do sell such...
>--
>Andrew Grebneff
>165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
><[log in to unmask]>
>Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
>