Dave,

Thank you for informing us and your reminiscences of Dick Kurz. I remember
his lists from the early 1970's on that characteristic blue paper.  As I
understood it, Dick was the mail order shell successor to Mrs. Sammie
Lawson, who retired and survived to age 99.

That was a very different time from the ease of obtaining shells remotely
today with worldwide shell auctions and sales over the internet, or before
national organizations like COA existed where you could buy shells at their
conventions.  You collected the shells yourself, bought them in person from
mail order lists, or travelled to shell shops primarily in Florida or
California. Some dealers would send shells on consignment to shell clubs,
but buying shells was much harder then.

One of the Christmas presents for those who ordered shells from him in
December, I believe 1970, was a Papuina pulcherrima, as sale and trade in
that species was legal then.  Some gift!

A time now gone when the receipt of the list, trying to find out what the
shell really looked like with our very limited resources (no plethora of
color illustrated shell books then), ordering and then waiting for the mail
made anticipation to see what you actually bought a great and wonderful
adventure.

Alan Gettleman
Merritt Island, FL

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