grace59
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Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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Best book for shell identification
I love beachcombing and am wanting to buy a book to help with shell identification, what is the best book you've found to help identify the shells of
the Sea of Cortez?
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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David K
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I have two books that cover shells (while they are still homes for living things):
1) Sea of Cortez Marine Invertebrates by Alex Kerstitch and Hans Bertsch c2007
2) The Edge of the Sea of Cortez (Tidewalkers' Guide to the Upper Gulf of California) by Betty Hupp and Marilyn Malone c2008
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Skipjack Joe
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I think it depends on how deep you want to get into it.
The books David suggests use 120 and <100 pages to cover all of the invertebrates for the entire Cortez, which may not cover the other shore. So
you're probably going to be able to key, what, 20-30 shells (the pacific lagoons have some lovely shells). Lots of frustration.
I've used this Peterson guide in the past. It was very comprehensive. So much so that it became difficult isolating your shell. However, there was an
image for each shell so you didn't have to 'key them out'.
It looks as though the Audubon Guide may be superior and has great reviews from shell collectors. I've never opened this one.
This image is of the Peterson Guide.
[Edited on 3-13-2011 by Skipjack Joe]
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AmoPescar
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Hi there Grace,
I have collected sea shells for many years and own many sea shell photo books and seal shell identification guides. These are 3 of my favorites
(in order of preference). Amazon URL's
A Collector's Guide to Seashells of the World
by - Jerome Eisenberg
Lots of very great pictures for identification. Paperback edition should be less than $20. Size about 8x11.
http://www.amazon.com/Collectors-Guide-Seashells-World/dp/05...
The Encyclopedia of Shells
by - Kenneth Wye
Again…lots of very good pictures for
identification. Size and price in paperback about same as above.
http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Shells-Kenneth-R-Wye/dp/0...
National Audubon Society Guide to North American Seashells
Paperback book size guide with lots of good
pictures. Nice plastic outside covering. Price under $20.
http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Seas...
Michael  
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wilderone
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Simon & Schuster's Gude to Shells ( I have a '79 edition), has everything I need for shell ID.
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grace59
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Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will go on-line and track down the titles and see what I can get before my next trip down...only 3 weeks
away!!!
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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AmoPescar
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Hi Again Grace,
I see you're from Washington. When I visited my brother in Redmond, I bought several SHELL books at HALF-PRICE BOOKS there in Redmond. Their selection
was good...and the prices were also GOOD!
here's a list of their WA locations...
BELLEVUE n 15600 N.E. 8th St. Crossroads Shopping Center n 425.747.6616
EVERETT n 1321 S.E. Everett Mall Way n 425.290.9924
LYNNWOOD n 19500 Hwy. 99 next to Trader Joe’s n 425.776.8885
REDMOND n 7805 Leary Way across from Town Center n 425.702.2499
SEATTLE n 115 Belmont Ave. E. near Capitol Hill n 206.267.7777
4709 Roosevelt Way N.E. in the University District n 206.547.7859
TACOMA n 4027 Tacoma Mall Blvd. Rainier Place n 253.566.1238
TUKWILA n 16828 Southcenter Pkwy. next to Toys ‘R’ Us n 206.575.3173
Good Luck with you book hunting here and your seashell hunting in Baja!!
Miguelamo   
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grace59
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Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by AmoPescar
Hi Again Grace,
I see you're from Washington. When I visited my brother in Redmond, I bought several SHELL books at HALF-PRICE BOOKS there in Redmond. Their selection
was good...and the prices were also GOOD!
here's a list of their WA locations...
BELLEVUE n 15600 N.E. 8th St. Crossroads Shopping Center n 425.747.6616
EVERETT n 1321 S.E. Everett Mall Way n 425.290.9924
LYNNWOOD n 19500 Hwy. 99 next to Trader Joe’s n 425.776.8885
REDMOND n 7805 Leary Way across from Town Center n 425.702.2499
SEATTLE n 115 Belmont Ave. E. near Capitol Hill n 206.267.7777
4709 Roosevelt Way N.E. in the University District n 206.547.7859
TACOMA n 4027 Tacoma Mall Blvd. Rainier Place n 253.566.1238
TUKWILA n 16828 Southcenter Pkwy. next to Toys ‘R’ Us n 206.575.3173
Good Luck with you book hunting here and your seashell hunting in Baja!!
Miguelamo |
Muchas Gracias, Miguelamo! I actually live south of Olympia so I was looking at the list of places where I can find a Half Price Books and
contemplating the savings there vs the overpriced gas it would cost me to get there  when I decided to check HPB out on-line and you can buy
from them on-line at good savings...including some great used books!! Thanks for the tip!
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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wilderone
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You can find just about anything at bookfinder.com at competitive prices. the Simon & Schuster's guide starts at $3.50 there.
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marv sherrill
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Absolute best book is Common Intertidal Invertebrates of the Gulf of California by Richard Brusca - pub - 1972- out of print now but you can pick up a
used copy for 50-100$$$ - used with the Kirstick and Bertsch book, you will find everything mollusk-wise and crabs, starfish, urchins,, worms, etc.
Well worth the price!
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Trueheart
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There are quite a few good sources, as can be seen by the responses you are getting here.
My sweetie is a shell collector. The book she uses has never disappointed. It is "Compendium of Seashells" by R. Tucker Abbott & S. Peter Dance.
A little over 400 pages, we bought our hardback "almost new" for $100. There are 360 pages of shell pictures ... most have 12 per page, some 11 ...
each picture has a shell name, description and native to. Each picture is approximately 1.5" x 2".
This book goes well beyond just Baja shells. It is global. We have done some traveling to more remote spots (Fiji, Australia, Thailand, etc.) so it
has come in handy for ID purposes in lots of locales.
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