What about Tritons?  Is there much demand for them?  I love 'em.
 
Sylvia S. Edwards
Huntsville, Alabama
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----- Original Message -----
From: Frank S. Walker <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Favorite shells
 
 
> As a small dealer, I have to say that I also find that Murex are rather
slow
> movers, but Conus are slow for me also. Cypraea are my largest mover, but
I
> find that a number of other families are gaining in popularity. I just
placed
> a number of Pectens  from a private collection for sale and only notified
a
> hundred or so people for whom I had e-mail addresses. In less than 24
hours,
> over 15  replies and over $2000 worth of Pectens sold. Cymatiums are also
> gaining along with Bursa. The Oliva family has a strong following and the
> Strombus folks also seem well represented. What just happened with the
Pecten
> also happened about 5 months ago when I sold off a collection of
Epitonium.
> There you have the facts. What does it prove? I think there are many
> different collectors that are waiting for the right shells and the right
> prices. When dealers give them what they want, they seem to come out of
the
> woodwork. Many of my customers tell me they started with Cypraea, Conus or
> Murex but then switched to another family for a variety of reasons. The
big
> surprise to me is the seeming drop off of Voluta collectors from 20 years
ago.
>
> Someone said that we are not attracting as much young blood into the hobby
as
> we use to attract. If that is so, and the numbers seem to support this,
than
> I believe it is having an impact on who collects what. Almost all of my
> younger collector these days are either European or Asian. I sure hope
this
> trend doesn't continue. We need to support COA and local clubs as much as
> possible. Especially in areas where we can show the public what a great
hobby
> this is, and that you don't have to be rich to enjoy the beauty of the
seas.
>
> If I had to save three shells, they would be the three that mean the most
to
> me personally (a Cyp stolida I found on Okinawa, a Cyp cernica I found in
3
> feet of water and a Charonia tritonis with a broken spire found in a tidal
> pool at night). Not the most costly. But that's how we get the reputation
> among non collectors as being a group of rich people. Some of my best
> customers are on fixed incomes and can spend very little, but I can tell
in
> their voices the excitement of waiting for that new shell, even though it
> only cost $2.00. I hope we all never lose the excitement of little
children
> and that we share this with others so that they to be see and enjoy the
> beauty of the sea.
>
> Frank Walker
> Gems From The Sea
> 72 Peltier Street, Marlborough, MA 01752 USA
> BUY - SELL - TRADE - Gift Certificates Available
> "Quality Specimen Sea Shells & Shell Crafts"
> (508) 481-7491; Fax: (508) 624-9778; out-of- state 1-800-497-3601
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]   Web Site: http://www.shellgems.com
>