Shell History and Evaluation

[grooving2music]

<img src="images/icones/icon4.gif" alt="images/icones/icon4.gif" style="border:0" /> Does the history of a shell have any importance?  I have a ton of shells my dad collected in the Phillipines and South Pacific during WWII.  Also, how do I find someone to help me idenfiy and evaluate all of them?  I'm in Eastern North Carolina.  If I need money and (heaven forbid) have to sell them, what is the best way?  Ebay?  Here?  A specialty site?  Thanks to all of you!  <img src="images/smiley/biggrin.gif" alt="" border="0" />

[paul monfils]

Here are some folks who can probably help you ...

<a href="http://www.ncshellclub.com/" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ncshellclub.com/">http://www.ncshellclub.com/</a><!-- m --></a>

You can also get shells identified on this website, in the identification forum, if you can take pictures of them, sufficiently closeup to be able to see the general characteristics of each shell. Group photos are ok. You don't need a separate photo for each shell.

As for values, someone knowledgeable would have to examine each shell first hand to establish values accurately. You can't really do that from pictures. For example, a cone shell that is usually worth $10 in perfect condition might be worth only half that if it has a chip in the lip, or twice that if it is unusually large or has other unusual features.

There are specialty sites like <a href="http://www.shellauction.net" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shellauction.net">www.shellauction.net</a><!-- w --></a> and <a href="http://www.shellcabinet.com" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shellcabinet.com">www.shellcabinet.com</a><!-- w --></a> where shells can be bought and sold online, and many shells are also sold on Ebay, but moving a good-sized collection through such channels is a LOT of work, taking pictures, posting them on the site, collecting the payments, shipping the shells to destinations all over the world. And, on such sites collectors are not likely to bid on common shells that can be purchased almost anywhere.

[grooving2music]

Thanks!  I'll see what I can find out.