I've purchased several specimens in California and got them back to home in western NY in my checked luggage without any breakage at all by first getting a tupperware container (a cheap one from the supermarket will do) that is at least an inch bigger than the shell in all dimensions, then pouring in some powdered laundry soap, setting the shell in (one per container), and then filling the rest of the container with more powdered soap, totally covering all the spines etc.  Then put on the seal and tape shut (just in case the seal decided to try to pop open).  When I got home all I did was open the container and gently run water into it until all the soap bubbled out, and there was the linguafelis, with no breakage.  I'm a bit leery about wrapping in paper towels, etc as if you're not careful you might forget and break a spine or two in the unwrapping process.

________________________________

From: Conchologists List on behalf of Andrew Grebneff
Sent: Mon 11/10/2008 7:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] PACKING



> I've some very spiny Spondylus linguafelis I've to pack (which I've to
> store for a longer time) besides the typical cotton woll and
> bubblewrapping does anyone have some other practical method of packing
> these fragile shells and which can guarantee me a minimum loss of/or
> broken spines....
> In general can I have on this forum some brainstorming about methods of
> packing/sending of shells (fragile or others)....



For packing such fragile shells I wouldn't use cottonwool... the
recipient won't thank you.

I'd use soft paper towels. Roll them around the specimen, crumpling
the towel as you go, until there's sufficient padding. If you don't
crumple the paper there will be no padding... crumpling is vital.

--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Mollusc, Toyota & VW van nut
Temporarily in Calgary, AB, Canada
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