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Notes
by Wesley M. Thorsson
Editor of Internet Hawaiian
Shell News
Note
from the Conch-L listserve April 18, 2001
The
current price of a shell is of considerable interest to dealers and buyers.
A
number of factors influence prices, and should be taken into consideration.
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Size: Each
species has a range of sizes that usually form a bell shaped curve
when number is plotted versus size. If you want a shell at either
end of the size range, you should expect higher prices.
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Rarity: Rarity
varies with time. The first shell to be found of a species is very
rare at that time. When an ideal location for the species is found,
they may be locally common with lower prices. Some species experience
great variations of populations. If the species is found in only
a small area, this will effect the price greatly.
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Location:
Some species are found almost worldwide, others are found only in
a small area (so far as is known for the species). Difficult to
reach, small ranges (geographic and depth) will produce higher prices
as they require much greater expense to obtain. Some species, though
found in a very wide range (such as Pacific-wide) are rare in some
areas (for instance, Cypraea annulus is not found in Hawaii to my
knowledge and Cypraea moneta are fairly rare
today). If you want a shell that is from an area where is rare,
you should expect prices of a rare shell, and the data and its reliability
determine the price.
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Who collects
the shells: Most bulk shells are collected by natives who earn only
a few dollars a day so the prices are apt to be low. Some areas only
have collectors who normally earn a good wage, and they aren't apt
to sell low price shells.
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Data: The data
for shells collected and sold in bulk is apt to be poor to lacking
in detail. Shells from very different habitats and areas are apt to
be lumped together. Some may have magnificent data that is made up
in mass and may be worthless for tying a location down further than
to a country. If you expect good data, expect higher prices.
Prices
change for a number of reasons.
Aloha
from Wesley M. Thorsson
Editor of Internet Hawaiian Shell News, a monthly Internet Publication
122 Waialeale St, Honolulu, HI 96825-2020, U.S.A
http://home.att.net/~w.thorsson/
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Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 00:14:22 -0400
Reply-To: Conchologists of America List
I was just leafing through
an old shell price catalog published by Walter Webb, circa 1950. Since
things are rather slow on Conch-L at the moment, I thought you might like
a small sampling of his price listings. . . . . .
Cassis tenuis $2.50 (Cypraecassis
tenuis)
Buccinum glaciale $ .50
Neptunea decemcostata $1.00
Murex adunca $1.00
Murex pecten $2.00
Murex plorator $1.00
Murex regius $1.00
Murex troscheli $2.50
Cassis plicata $2.50 (Cassis fimbriata)
Conus bullatus $5.00
Conus floccatus $12.00
Conus orbignyi $1.00
Conus gubernator $1.50
Conus sieboldi $1.50
Conus spectrum $1.00
Conus auratus $3.00
Voluta musica $2.50
Voluta brasiliana $3.00
Voluta musica $2.00
Voluta vexillum $3.00 (Harpulina arausiaca)
Voluta lyriaeformis $2.50
Cypraea decipiens $3.50
Cypraea tessellata $2.00 to $5.00
Cypraea ventriculus $1.50
Strombus galeatus $2.00
Megalatractus proboscidifera $5.00 to $10.00 (Syrinx aruanus)
Vasum cassidiformis $1.50
Xenophora pallidula $2.50
The following are listed
as "Very Rare - P.O.R.":
Voluta virescens
Cypraea leucostoma (Cypraea teulerei)
Murex clavus (Pterynotus elongatus)
Halia priamus (Ampulla priamus)
How times change!
Paul M.
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