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Bardamu · Posted: 09.10.2009, 02:06 Post subject: cowry bargains

Hi everyone-

Often with cowries you get what you pay for, although there are a lot of terribly overpriced specimens out there. But its good when u can occasionally snap up a total bargain. I'm interested in hearing some collectors `best bargains ever'. I have listed below a few of my own, off the top of my head, but I'm sure some others who are more widely travelled and experienced than myself will have some better tales to tell.

brevidentata superb 29mm AUD$2
rashleighana gem once owned by Burgess AUD$25
`jandeprezi' AU 25 cents in a basket of miscellaneous cowries
howelli gem 107mm AUD$35

Look forward to hearing some others. This should be good Smilie

Best regards
Lynton

benicypraea · Posted: 09.10.2009, 13:12 Post subject:

Hello all:

Interesting question.
My personal experience with bargain prices:

Umbilia hesitata howelli gem - 20 €
Zonaria pyrum angolensis fine +++/ gem - 150 €
Cypraea pantherina funebralis superb 20 €
Macrocypraea cervus giant gem dark 107 mm 12€
Neobernaya spadicea superb rusty fine +++ 8€
Mauritia eglantina black very rostrate, heavy, fine +++ 50€
Mauritia mauritiana NC enough rostrate, rare, gem 25€

Because I cannot pay very high prices for shells, always I search for bargains in the shops, shell shows, private collectors, and dealers, of course...

Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

Sleepycat · Posted: 09.10.2009, 18:44 Post subject:

The only real standout in my case is rashleighana, AUD$20 in 1991. Not that it really means anything because I wouldn't sell it, but it's nice to have something and think that if you wanted to get it now it would cost dozens of times more.

In my early teens I was able to pick up many uncommon species from old collections for prices like 25c a shell, but mostly dead-coll stuff in only reasonable nick, and often without data, good mainly just for saying that I actually had that species.

seychelles · Gender: Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 34 Location: USA

Of course, this only relates to unadvertised bargains. I translate terms
like "sacrifice. a steal, low starting price, cheap" etc to mean
"run for the hills". As with all collectibles, there will always be
overpriced "gems" readily available, but you seldom get anything truly outstanding without paying a premium for it.

felix · Posted: 10.10.2009, 09:01 Post subject:

Well, you believe it or not, but I got:
- a real original albino aurantium gem++ at $ 149
- a 110% black mauritiana at $ 39
- and a genuine golden friendi contrariana for just $39,99
all these were on eBay, directly from the fisherman who collected them in the Phillipines, snorkled by tangle net, ex pisce in 500 m (on reef).

benicypraea · Posted: 11.10.2009, 01:07 Post subject:

Hello Felix:

Nice shells, very nice prices, too; about the mauritiana I have a little doubt:

110% black mauritiana = 100% black shell + 10% black animal? Sehr glücklich

Regards,
Beni Cool

A very recent bargain related with shells no cowries: Just I´m back from south Portugal for a day, after several hours of driving, I found a real bargain in a local shop, one great fine +++/ gem - real adult Strombus goliath from Ceará, Brazil, 40€! Auf den Arm nehmen

Note: it was the only specimen in that shop. Probably there were several ones this summer, but maybe all of these were previously (and quickly) purchased by tourist...I believe...
_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

felix · Posted: 11.10.2009, 06:26 Post subject:

Careful, they are making Strombus goliath in Philippines, too!

benicypraea · Posted: 11.10.2009, 17:08 Post subject:

Regards,
Beni Cool

p.d. A friend of mine traveled to Philippines some years ago, he was looking for shells in some local shops, and he found achatidea!!
_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

cowryman3sai · Posted: 12.10.2009, 06:06 Post subject: Cypraea Bargains Reply

Once a week C and S Cabinet has an auction.I have gotten countless specimens at a very low price.Recently several 68+mm Gutatta's for around $50.00 a piece.You can now get Valentia's there at a very low price.Hirasei's have gone way down!Snatch them while they're on the list because like high end Guttata Hirasei's are heading in that same direction.This may be the case with Kuroharai"s as well.I got a dead Midwayensis from Michael Jordan, the first found in 35 years off Aliguay for $285.00.For about that same price a large gem Caputserpensis found in Hawaii,snow white like Eburnea.Only the second of that type of varient.Hopefully we will get alot of responses to this question.It adds to the history of our hobby and our memory of it.Who said were out of questions!:-)Thanks for the shot in the arm Auf den Arm nehmen

ps.I just now thought?What's that new species of cypraea we have overlooked Winken

I have one imaginery one, a smaller thicker more colorful far more robust teramachi Lachen

but have not got around to locating it.All the midwayensis are crawling along very healthy so lets not worry.Deep water has its benefits.It is a big ocean isn't Geschockt

See ya buds and thanks a million for adding more to the forum.
_________________
Robert F.Grant lll in Salina,Kansas 67401 U.S.A. Check webshots.com and cypraea collectors are now on Facebook.com.It's extremely cool!!A must check.Been collecting for 45 years.

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