>Date:    Tue, 30 Oct 2001 05:02:32 -0600
>From:    rjnjr <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Freshwater shell collection
>
>  Dear Kevin:
>
>There was indeed a known shell collector by the name of  Dr. Arnold. I have
>a few of his shells. He was a collector of Freshwater Mollusks from the
>period around the Civil War if memory serves. My collection has some pieces
>of that vintage and they are pretty well preserved.

That is exactly correct. The woman I talked to mentioned something
about his Civil War collections as well.  Do you know anything else
about him?  First name?  Any obits published you are aware of?

>The value of course depends on the content, as you well know, many of the
>shells may be of species that have been extirpated or are now extinct in
>range or in toto.

Which would make them hard to price as many would likely be off
limits to the general public wouldn't it?

>I have recently had a figure of 3 - 4 dollars each suggested to me in
>valuing my collection for sale. This seems fair in the average, but not so
>fair when you look at individual species. It seems to me that common
>Elliptios at $4.00 is a great price for the seller and Obovaria retusa at
>$4.00 is a great price for the buyer.
>
>Commercial value is always down to what someone will pay, despite what
>dealers or auctioneers may think. Freshwater shells are not in that much
>demand except among the enlightened.

Hear. Hear.

>They may lack the romance of the Murex
>or the intrigue of the Plerotomaria, but they have much more interesting sex
>lives!!! That being said - a collection is worth what someone will pay for
>it.
>--
>Sincerely,
>Robert J. Nuelle, Jr.
>Webmaster
>The UniverShell Trading Company
>[log in to unmask]
>http://www.univershell.com/home.html      --- Molluscan Natural History Site
>http://www.univershell.com/bfly/home.htm  --- Butterfly Natural History Site

Thanks.

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/