Dear Martin et al.:
 
Walter Webb published at least five editions of "Catalogue of Recent
mollusca...from all parts of the world."  I have been trying to assemble a
collection of these works (and his others, including the famous "Handbook
for shell collectors," which saw at least sixteen editions).
 
Webb and his publishers were not very fastidious about documenting the dates
of each edition.  The first edition appeared in 1939, the second in 1945.
There is no discernible difference in content between the 4th and 5th
editions except that he published the former and Lee Publications, Wellesley
Hills, MA. (no relation) the latter.  The titles varied slightly over the
course of the editions.
 
As a lad I wrote Webb inquiring about six then-elusive Western Atlantic
shells.  I received an edited version of my letter on which he had inscribed
"25 ct" next to Conus granulatus and "$1.00" opposite Tellina magna.  He
went on to indicate that my other desiderata: Murex cabritii, Pecten
mildredae, Pecten imbricatus, and Conus sozoni had been "sold."  That was on
my letter dated September 2, 1955.  I don't think I tried to buy either of
the shells.  He was 86 years old then and was to live less than two years
longer, but I don't think I regarded him as an old man.  I had been using
his "Handbook for shell collectors" (9th edition) since it came out in 1951.
(Paul M. has the 7th or 8th edition).  This was one of a precious few shell
books in my library - and arguably the most useful for studying exotic shells.
 
Among the destinations of large portions of Webb's collection was the late
Major G. D. Robinson, also of St. Pete.  I bought most of the Major's
collection from his son on Dec. 6, 1986.  There were tens of thousands of
Webb shells (over a thousand lots of landsnails alone) and over a thousand
of his labels, some hand-written, some commercially printed, some both.  An
unanticipated bonus was the acquisition of a mahogany shell (drawered)
cabinet, which I could identify from a photograph of his "conchological den"
in that ninth edition of the "Handbook."
 
As Kurt said, those "of semi-advanced age," despite the shock and indignity
of senescence, can feel privileged to to pass the lore of the hobby to
newcomers and youngsters in our fold. We veterans had one heck of a lot of
fun getting where we are, but there's even more fascination ahead.
 
Cheers for 1999,
Harry
 
 
At 02:40 PM 1/1/99 EST, you wrote:
>Does anyone out there remember a Walter F. Webb. At a garage sale I came
>across a 156 page illustrated price list that must be quite old. The address
>is here in St. Petersburg, however I am not at all familiar with the name. The
>shell prices certainly do not reflect current values at all. Conus aurantius
>Hwass, 1792 for $2.50  and Cassis tenuis Say ? at $2.50 for instance. Each
>shell listed has a great description and a line drawing to go with each. With
>such an impressive catalog I would take it that he was a dealer of some
>importance. I cannot find a date that this book was published. it simply says
>on the cover "1225 illustrations Fourth Edition, published by WALTER F.WEBB
>2515 SECOND AVENUE NORTH, ST. PETERSBURG 3, FLORIDA .
>
>Just curious as to who this gentleman was or is.
>
>Martin Tremor
>St. Petersburg, FL
>
Harry G. Lee
mailto:[log in to unmask]
Suite 500, 1801 Barrs Street
Jacksonville, FL  32204
U. S. A.    904-384-6419
Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/wfrank/jacksonv.htm
 
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