Environmentally friendly sea shell collections available for purchase?

[christy]

Hi Paul,

I am new to the board & find it a very interesting site !

Just a query though in regard to your

"Occasionally a dealer will offer a dead collected shell of a rare species that simply isn't available in live-collected condition.  But no specimen shell vendor offers dead collected shells of common species, simply because almost no-one wants them" comment.

If this is the case why then when people offer old collections for sale there seem to be a number of people interested in them?

A second question if I may, & I am a beginner to shell collecting so excuse any ignorance in my question, but how do you know where shells originated from if they came to you from an estate you know nothing about ?

I received a box of old shells & artefacts, including glass negatives, many years ago. One of the glass negatives shows a "Chief from the Gold Coast" [Africa] [or was it the Ivory Coast - right now I can't recall].  Would the accompanying jewellery, carved shell objects & negatives be enough to verify their country of origin ??

Grateful for any help here.

Cheers,
Christy