| Proper
identification
is important
–
but collecting
data is
even more
so |
Good labels are
as important
as the shells
themselves. It
makes no sense
to throw a bunch
of shells into
a cabinet without
any data, unless
you want them
for decoration
only. Collectors
should always
try to obtain
and keep as much
information about
their specimens
as possible.
This will certainly
raise the value
of the collection
– not only
monetary but
scientifically
also.
For example,
let’s consider
a landsnail specimen
collected in
downtown Rio
de Janeiro in
1900. Of course,
today you won’t
find there a
single living
shell (or any
living animal
except for pigeons
and rats…),
but the record
from a wisely
kept label secured
the information,
so that future
generations will
know the location
of that species
in the past.
Below is a list
of important
information which
should be on
a label –
it may look like
too much, but
it will be worth
the extra work
some day.
- Family,
species name
and author.
- Exact
location -
avoid imprecise
location such
as “next
to house”,
preferably
beach or city
name, not
forgetting
to include
the country
(not everyone
knows all
the names
of cities
in Iceland…).
You may add
other information
as “on
the left side
of beach”.
- Habitat
– under
rocks, sand,
depth, etc
- Bibliography
– people
may want to
know where
you got that
identification.
- Collector’s
name
- Source
- donation
from collector,
dealer’s
name, bought
at shell show,
trip, etc.
- Collecting
date
- Acquisition
date (when
you acquired
it, if different
from the collecting
date)
- Size
– important
in the event
you get more
specimens
and they get
mixed in the
same drawer
or box
- Special
features –
color, exceptional
size, pattern,
etc.
- Value
– yes,
one day someone
may be interested
in purchasing
your collection
and it will
be good to
know how much
you have invested
there. Use
average prices
for self-collected
specimens
for valuation
purposes.
PS. The label
illustrated here
was from Bunnie
Cook’s
collection. It
is from 1990
and one of our
first labels
– and no,
I don’t
miss hand-written
labels…
|
