Linda,

Don't mean to make this complicated, but like sop many other factors in this
hobby, things are not usually black and white, even when we want them to be.

On grading, you have to first know what is the typical condition for this
shell. Many shells never get better than F or F+, so you would not subtract
it that were the case. Size and locality also effect value. I recently had a
shell and the location seemed hard to believe, so I checked with Dr. Lorenz.
He verified that very rarely the shell is found in that location. Now, what
does that do to the value?

We all want this to be a simple process, but it isn't. That's what makes
Rice's prices hard to use as a bible. It's a great guide and will get you
close more often than not, but all the factors that went into the valuation
of a shell, cannot be listed. Color forms and freaks are in high demand these
days and the prices show this, but the pricing guide has no way of doing that
outside of a few families.

As always, it comes down to what is the shell worth to you. You can use the
guides to get you close, but it's still what you feel it's worth.

Hope this helps. I know I often find the whole process a lot more work than I
thought it would be.

Frank Walker

Gems From The Sea
Visit Our WEB SITE: www.shellgems.com
"Quality Specimen Shells For Every Collector"
 BUY - SELL - TRADE - CONSIGNMENT
New Shells Arrive Every Week - [log in to unmask]
New posting every week under BULLETIN Board
(508) 481-7491; Fax: (508) 624-9778; out-of- state 1-800-497-3601
<A HREF="http://www.shellgems.com/"> Welcome to Shell Gems: buy and sell
shells from around the world</A>