Dear Kevin,
As a freshwater collector in Australia this sounds like a very interesting
collection as there are probably many species now impossible to obtain. I
would have a poor idea of valuations on US species, but it might be worth
trying a dealer who does handle Unionids eg Richard Goldberg or the Coltros
of Femorale in Brasil.
Geoff


>From: "Kevin S. Cummings" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Freshwater shell collection
>Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 11:10:13 -0600
>
>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
>[log in to unmask]
>http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html
>
>Join the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Today!
>http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu/fmcs/


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