We have been consulted by several collectors and friends about this in the
past years.
There are different conditions which only the collector and his family can
discuss.
If money is not a relevant matter then donation is the best way to preserve
the collector's memory forever in a Museum.
Being a dealer I know how difficult is to evaluate a friend's or a
customer's collection. As it has been pointed, we have many expenses to keep
our business running and not all shells in a collection are saleable.
Certainly the price offered by a dealer will be much less than the price
imagined by the collector.
There is one option in case a sale is important, split the collection in
two: rare and nice shells in one side and common and not so good specimens
in other side. The first one can be offered to a dealer - the second part
can be donated. This can save a lot of disappointment when the offer is made
by any dealer since he will only see the specimens which can easily be sold
- all the other shells can stay for years in his stock and even never be
sold.
If your family knows how much you loved your collection and they don't
really need the extra money simply tell them to make a donation after you
are gone. It is important to consider that collections are never an
investment but a source of pleasure and knowledge to anyone who spent time
gathering objects and information. Only you know how much it worth and no
money in the world will pay you back for what it meant to you.
Marcus
Marcus Coltro
WWW.FEMORALE.COM
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Messenger: converse online com seus amigos .
http://messenger.msn.com.br
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
