Jim,
I personally don't like to measure shells especially when there may be a
dozen in a given lot. Sometimes, it is virtually impossible. The
collection that I spoke of had at least 100-200 vials of micros (1-3mm)
with dozens, maybe a hundred specimens in each vial. Could you imagine
measuring them! I know that this is heresy to some collectors, however, if
the shell is large enough, I place the catalog number on the shell. If
they are too small, I put them in a vial and include a slip of paper with
the catalog number written on it. These numbers are also in the catalog
and on the label.
> To all,
>
> We have just finished a year long ordeal of disposing of a collection
> of a departed friend. I can certainly emphasize with the problems
> you've surfaced. The family had tossed the detailed logs that were
> kept on the shells and although vestiges were on a computer, fixing
> data to shell was agony. Tip here: We use a Filemaker Pro database
> with a field for dimensions; careful measurement becomes a good
> "fingerprint" for a shell that has lost its label/number. We were
> able to realize about $10,000 for a $30-35,000 collection. One thing
> we did was invite our club over for a 60% off sale which went well. I
> would think this would work really well in sheller rich central/south
> Florida. 40% is well above what dealers will offer.
>
> Jim Brunner
> On Oct 28, 2010, at 4:33 PM, Charles Sturm wrote:
>
>> Bill
>> I think, in many cases, the fair market value is very vague and
>> uncertain.
>> Think of the art world, what is a Picasso worth? If it is a painting
>> (not
>> a print) there is only one copy. Its value is what it sold for most
>> recently; you might be able to adjust the price for inflation.
>>
>> Few shells are unique; excepting holotypes when no other specimen is
>> known. If shells were purchased, the purchase price is an
>> indication. If
>> self collected, prices charged by others are a useful indication of
>> worth.
>> Reviewing dealer lists can help; there is much variation here. How
>> much
>> did the dealer pay for it and the size, and quality all come to bear
>> on
>> the value placed on the shell. Was it from an uncommon locality or
>> from a
>> famous collection, is it an unusual form or color, etc, etc.
>>
>> I believe that Tom Rice generated his list by reviewing the lists of
>> many
>> dealers and then came up with ranges for the mollusks on his list.
>> When I
>> try to price a shell, I will look at the lists for several dealers
>> (I keep
>> about 15 bookmarked on my computer). Keep in mind that someone
>> selling a
>> shell from China or Australia that is local to where the shell was
>> found
>> may sell it for less than a dealer from Europe or North America and
>> vice
>> versa.
>>
>> There are many shells that never seem to appear on lists. Mostly
>> these are
>> very common specimens that would not generate much income for the
>> seller
>> or for which there may be little interest. The families Volutidae,
>> Conidae, Cypraeidae, and Muricidae command higher prices that
>> Veneridae or
>> Sphaeriidae.
>>
>> In the end, it is what you feel that you can defend if you are
>> audited by
>> the IRS. Some folks that I know just put a price on the most unique
>> and
>> expensive specimens and price the rest at a nominal value such as
>> $1-5/lot.
>>
>>
>>> Great discussion.
>>>
>>> One area of the topic that still seems a bit unclear is how to
>>> determine
>>> "fair market value" of a shell collection. Since thresholds of value
>>> ($500,
>>> $5,000, etc.) are important, is there a simple way to take this first
>>> step?
>>>
>>> While internet auctions, lists, and mailed dealer lists will have
>>> offers
>>> for
>>> some shells, there are many species that have not been recently
>>> offered
>>> for
>>> sale. How are these priced? Yes, some species have dropped
>>> dramatically
>>> in value - but other species found in old collections (e.g. found
>>> in areas
>>> now protected or depleted) seem to be no longer available on the
>>> market.
>>> Is
>>> there a fair way to price these?
>>>
>>> Tom Rice used to publish a guide to dealers prices asked for
>>> shells. It
>>> had
>>> many problems, but it was widely recognized among collectors and
>>> dealers
>>> as
>>> a source of pricing information. This is no longer being
>>> produced. Does
>>> anyone know if another individual or group is planning to publish a
>>> replacement for "Rice's prices"?
>>>
>>> If not, are there any other tools available for collectors and
>>> heirs who
>>> want to do a "self-appraisal" of a shell collection?
>>>
>>> Bill Fenzan
>>> Norfolk, VA
>>>
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>>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Charlie
>> .................................................
>> Charlie Sturm
>> Research Associate - Section of Mollusks
>> Carnegie Museum of Natural History
>> Pittsburgh, PA, USA
>>
>> Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
>> Fellow-American Academy of Family Practice
>> Fellow-Academy of Wilderness Medicine
>>
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>
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Regards,
Charlie
.................................................
Charlie Sturm
Research Associate - Section of Mollusks
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
Fellow-American Academy of Family Practice
Fellow-Academy of Wilderness Medicine
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