Collections of shells can have scientific, commercial and aesthetic value.
Ever since I did some of the editorial research for Pete Dance’s ‘Encyclopedia of Shells’ (back in 1973) I have been fascinated by the cowries. I have my own small collection – all of them obtained from unwanted museum specimens (which means that someone else bears the responsibility for any environmental damage!).
Scientific Value
More serious collectors, who actually travel around and find their own specimens, can add much to scientific knowledge. This is particularly true when we are looking at the distribution of any species, but it will also be useful in the future by providing a sort of ‘base-line’. Future changes in distribution (say as a result of global warming or habitat damage) will have a point of comparison. For this to be of any use it is important that each shell is individually labelled (or recorded somehow) for both date and location of capture.
Aesthetic and Commercial Value
I find shells beautiful, particularly the cowries. When they are displayed appropriately they can become almost ‘works of art’. Some of the rarer shells can also be quite expensive. I was once lucky enough to handle a 200 year old Cypraea aurantium in the Natural History Museum (London) which had attained its famous golden sheen. This specimen must be almost priceless! Not only of value to collectors – cowries (particularly C. moneta) have actually been used as currency in the past.
