Hi James,

I think you will have to put the "Demon Shell," the Chimaeria
incomparabilis, on your list of ten. Not only is it extremely rare (5 or
6 known in any condition), large and showy, and very beautiful. But it
is also infamous, supposedly carrying a curse; and besides, it is the
shell that was stolen from the American Museum a few years ago, causing
quite an international stir. Check it out. Guido has several pictures of
them on his site.
<http://www.club.innet.be/~year0078/EN/Cyberconchology.html> The shell
is a chocolate brown cowry (or cowry relative) with a flame orange
interior...at least that is what the ones I saw looked like.
We'd like to see you list when you finish.

Lynn Scheu
Louisville, KY
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James M Cheshire wrote:
>
> Dear all, I need some help. Could someone give me a list
> of 10 VERY rare shells? I mean shells that are so rare that
> only major museums have them. Could anyone help? I'm trying
> to do a documentary on 10 extremely rare shells of the world.
>
> Thanks,
> James