Dear Kevin, As a freshwater collector in Australia this sounds like a very interesting collection as there are probably many species now impossible to obtain. I would have a poor idea of valuations on US species, but it might be worth trying a dealer who does handle Unionids eg Richard Goldberg or the Coltros of Femorale in Brasil. Geoff >From: "Kevin S. Cummings" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Freshwater shell collection >Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 11:10:13 -0600 > >Dear Listers, > >I received a call today from a woman who has a collection of "1000 >species of freshwater mollusks and numerous individuals of each from >the late 1800's." She stated that she thought that they were from a >private collection of one Dr. Arnold of New Hartford, New York. That >name doesn't ring any bells with me. Anyone? She is wanting to part >with it but has no idea as to it's value. It is my (perhaps >mistaken) experience that most collections sold are marine or >landsnail collections. Is there anyone out there that has experience >in estimating the value of such a freshwater collection? I told her >that is does have value from a scientific standpoint but I was unable >to give her much info on the monetary side of things. I know museums >used to buy collections in the past, but I didn't think that in these >times of fiscal restraint (=insanity) that much of that went on these >days. Perhaps I am mistaken here as well. Any pointers from the >group would be most welcomed. > >Kevin >-- >Kevin S. Cummings >Illinois Natural History Survey >607 E. Peabody Drive >Champaign, IL 61820 >[log in to unmask] >http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html > >Join the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Today! >http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu/fmcs/ _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp