The Mollusks
A
Guide to their Study,Collection and Preservation
edited
by C.F.
Sturm, T.A. Pierce & A. Valdes
2006,
Universal Publishers, Boca Raton,FL. laminated paper covers,
445
pages, page size is approx 7.25 by 9.5 inches (19 by 25.5
cm),
illustrated with some black and white photographs, drawings, charts.
This book will make a
valuable
addition to the library of any shell collector that I know.
It is
a publication of the American Malacological Society and it is
far
and away a great step ahead of the "ancestor" of this book
"How
to study & Collect Shells" which was a basic source of
information
for collectors for many years. It represents a huge expansion and an
updated review of the information in the old work, and it covers many
areas that were not covered before. It is a true miscellany and it is
not designed to be read from cover to cover. But if you need
information on almost any topic, you can find it here. Do you want to
know how to computerize your shell collection? You will find that
information here. Do you want to photograph you shells or make digital
scans of them? Just open to chapters 6 and 7. Are you
planning to
donate your shell collection to a scientific institution?
You'll
find that here. Are you planning a field trip or vacation to
collect shells and want to know the best way to go about it? It's all
inside. The editors have included information
contributed
to this publication from about 29 different experts both amateur and
professional to answer all of your questions. If I could make
two
wishes that would make this book even more valuable the first would be
that the photographic images were a little sharper than they are now.
The second would be that the binding were stronger because I
know
that every copy of this book is going to be put through a lot of use.
Apart from those two "wishes",I think that we all owe a big
"thank you" to the editors and the contributors for making
this a
great book and sharing their knowledge with us. Oh yeah, one last
point; in these days when it is hard to find a new shell publication
that will set you back over $100.00, this book is a bargain.
