Summertime means the beach. And we all know what most people go to the beach to look at, right? Of course, seashells! Collecting seashells can be not only fun, but lucrative. Of course, it certainly helps if you live near the ocean, but it’s not exactly required. After all, collecting seashells couldn’t be lucrative if there wasn’t somebody somewhere who bought them. Having lived near the water all my life, I really don’t understand the appeal of the beach. I’m sure those who’ve lived in the mountains all their lives feel exactly the same way about the mountains. It’s always amazed me how much people are willing to pay for shells that they can get for free just by walking along the coastline. But then again, they don’t live near the coastline year round. Of course, ideally when you begin collecting seashells you should start off with the ones that appeal to you. There are many different kinds of seashells and not everybody finds the same shells equally attractive. Of course, as with any collectible item, there are superstars.
The number one star in the world of collecting seashells are the conches and other conical shells. For one thing, when these kinds of shells are undamaged, they tend to be extraordinary, almost as if they were hand painted with their magnificent colors. Perfect specimens of cone shells have sold to collectors for-get ready-thousands of dollars! Don’t get too excited, however. A shell that once sold for a record 2500 bucks was resold years later at loss for just 700 dollars.
Another very popular shell for collectors are the cowries. These are egg-shaped shells that are home to marine snails. Cowries are popular for a number of reasons, but mostly because they have a hard, smooth shell that gives off a polished glow. In fact, these shells are often thought to be so shiny as a result of human intervention; sometimes they are lacquered to give them an extra sheen, but usually that’s the way they come. Another reason for their popularity is that they have striking an unusual patterns that really catch the eye.
But the most popular shells are not necessarily the ones that you should collect. Anything that catches your eye and is aesthetically appealing is the one you want. Or, perhaps your choice will be based on display ability. Those really big honking shells are nice, no doubt, but unless you’ve got a big curio cabinet or some major wall space, people aren’t going to see them. On the other hand, if you go for the smaller shells you can build up quite a nice collection before you run out of room.
If you just can’t make it to the shoreline, but have fallen in love with collecting seashells, you’re not out of luck. Did you know that you can actually buy seashells on eBay? Of course, you can buy anything on eBay, so that’s not surprising. (I myself sold my sense of propriety a few years ago; only made five bucks, but I consider it worth it.) When looking to purchase seashells, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you’re looking to collect shells as an investment vehicle, stay away from chipped or broken shells. Many shells have sharp ridges to them; you have to be careful or you can seriously cut your hand. If these ridges have been ground down the shells should be avoided. And any shell you actually buy should come with an identification of some kind. In addition to buying from eBay or other online stores, there are actually seashell clubs that meet, send out newsletters and otherwise share information on collecting seashells. You can also buy shells not only individually, but in batches packed inside a box.
Of course, when it comes to seashell collecting, buying them doesn’t match the excitement of finding them yourself. If you prefer the really colorful shells, you’ll have to trek to a tropical climate near warm waters. Although you can certainly find good specimens simply by walking along the seashore, most seaside towns usually have at least one or two boating charters that specialize in deep sea shell collecting. Of course, if you just want to walk along the shoreline, keep an eye tuned to the Weather Channel during hurricane season. Following a big water-borne storm the beaches become a veritable living seashell store with the added benefit that they’re all free. Of course, you have to remember, these shells are on a first-come, first-served basis.
