Like the recent panel discussion at the Boston COA convention, this has been
quite interesting.  I believe a point not yet discussed is: do you really
need to sell a collection or arrange a complicated donation to receive a tax
break?  I have found that often times monetary considerations get in the way
of peace and happiness.  Somewhere between selling a collection piecemeal on
Ebay or as a complete collection to a dealer and having your survivors toss
it in the trash, lies giving the collection to other collectors or shell
clubs.  If this is done without worrying about how much the collection is
worth or how much of a return you can get, then other considerations can
come to the forefront.  Will the collection be appreciated?  Will the
collection be well cared for?  Will this action make someone happy?  Can I
help my local club or even COA?  Most of us do not collect shells as an
investment.  If you do, then be warned they are not a very good investment
and you can probably quit reading now.  The evidence to support my
theory...all anecdotal I am afraid.   I personally have been the beneficiary
of a donated shell collection.  It was fun getting a bunch of new shells.
It was more than fun, it was exciting, exhilarating, and almost surreal.  I
will always be deeply appreciative to have been hit by that lightening bolt.
It was nice being able to share some of the shells with others, especially
specialists with more of an interest in certain families than maybe I have.
I have also benefitted from a donated collection that was spread out in
numerous plastic bins on the table at a recent shell club meeting for all
members to pick through.  These were all shells from the Pacific that had
been personally collected (SCUBA and snorkeling) by the club member on
several trips to the South Pacific.  Thankfully we only had six shellers
present, so there was no blood or broken bones.  With more members a system
of taking turns would have to be used.  What we did have were some wide (and
some would say silly) grins as folks wondered around the table picking a
shell here or there, or pointing out a shell they thought another member
would be interested in.  We plan on doing this again with purchased shells
from this individual's collection.  All shells remaining will be mailed as a
donation to COA.  No, this isn't a $100,000 collection, but it is no
collection of beach shells in a shoe box either.  I know of several really
nice collections that are willed to other collectors.  My collection goes to
my oldest daughter in part and the rest will be given to other collectors by
my wife or surviving kids.  No profit, no tax write off.  So if the money
end seems to be a bit more trouble than it is worth - look to other ends for
your collection.

Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA

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