Dear Listers,

I received a call today from a woman who has a collection of "1000
species of freshwater mollusks and numerous individuals of each from
the late 1800's." She stated that she thought that they were from a
private collection of one Dr. Arnold of New Hartford, New York. That
name doesn't ring any bells with me.  Anyone? She is wanting to part
with it but has no idea as to it's value.  It is my (perhaps
mistaken) experience that most collections sold are marine or
landsnail collections.  Is there anyone out there that has experience
in estimating the value of such a freshwater collection?  I told her
that is does have value from a scientific standpoint but I was unable
to give her much info on the monetary side of things.  I know museums
used to buy collections in the past, but I didn't think that in these
times of fiscal restraint (=insanity) that much of that went on these
days.  Perhaps I am mistaken here as well.  Any pointers from the
group would be most welcomed.

Kevin
--
Kevin S. Cummings
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 E. Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
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http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html

Join the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Today!
http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu/fmcs/