Hello Tom from New Mexico!

Thanks for all the references - along with Paul M's,
another post for the "keeper" folder.

Dead vs. alive - I guess it all depends on why the
collector is collecting.  For me at this point, it
is because they are beautiful, and because I like
the process almost more than I like having the
pretty things around.  For a dealer, it would be a
different story - of course,  a shell dealer would
want the most saleable items to offer to serious
collectors.

Which brings me to another comment, not at all
intended to disparage anyone's chosen occupation,
but I can't see the sense in purchasing a shell.  I
guess because I like the process of looking for them
so much, it would kind of defeat my own personal
puposes to just whip out my credit card.  Where's
the fun in that? :-)  Still, I recognize that
collectors could get to the point where they are
focused on a particular family and wanting to
complete their collection, they'd be willing and
eager to pay to finally have that one elusive piece
they've been unable to self-collect.

Regards
Tink *~*~*