I of course like perfect specimens, but on the rare shells for my own
collection I will take second grade ones.  My Mentor Dan Steger who
lived in Tampa had a study collection that I had access to at anytime.
I could id my shells from his collection, and he had some imperfect
shells.   I'm mostly on Marginellas now which don't have much damage and
most are F+ to Gem.  I collected Florida and Caribbean shells for many
years, but Marginellas are my passion for many years now.  I used to go
with Jim Moore on his boat "The Cavalier"  he let me have his seconds
and I went through his dredging material after he had gone through it
and trippled my collection, because he wasn't picking out tiny and some
small shells.

There are some collectors that don't want a specimen that was taken
alive.  Some like octopus holes in the shells that proved they were dead
taken.  That's a whole new business.

I'm giving a program for the St. Petersburg Shell Club on "LIVING SHELLS
OF FLORIDA"  It's a power point program with the best picures I have
taken over the last 40 years, and no Marginellas are included.  That was
a different program. The date is March 14.  You can find more
information on Stpeteshellclub.org .  Hope to see you there.  I usually
don't write this much.

The St. Petersburg shell show is Feb 22 and 23.

Bob

Robert Lipe Specimens
www.theshellstore.com
348 Corey Ave
St. Pete Beach, Fl 33706


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