Just like Mike, my focus is not on a specific family but on a specific
locale.  I take great pleasure in self-collecting from one specific beach in
Florida and trying to compile my own inventory, then compare that inventory
with another from a nearby locale, such as one of Harry Lee's Florida list.
I also doubt that I will ever complete my collection, but each year I seem
to add to my collection and list.  The satisfaction for me comes from the
discovery of the never-before collected specimen, or discovering that "must
have" specimen that by all accounts should be there but had escaped
collection to that point.  It also gives you a sense of really knowing what
a specific locale offers.  I concur again with Mike Gray that the
self-collected specimen is much more significant and meaningful to me
personally than a purchased specimen.

Ron Dollmann
Orchard Park, N.Y.

-----Original Message-----
From: William Corey [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Must Have Shells


Greetings to All,
        Recently, coffee cup in hand, I was admiring some of my shells.  As
I
was gazing rather fondly at them I wondered "What compels people to collect
particular shells?"  I thought I would like to convene a virtual summit and
ask the question this way:

           As you have been building your collections have you ever
thought:....What would be your "Canon" or closed list of must have
specimens.
 For example, as a collector of Cones (or cowries or whatever), what must
you
have to feel you have a "good" or "complete" collection.  Of course it is a
matter of personal taste, but I am curious if there is a consensus among the
collectors in this readership:

      Of the kinds of specimens you collect, what must you have? Or, to put
it another way: Which specimens do you feel should be in every "good"
collection?

                                   Thanks, in advance, for your opinions