A Compendium of Seashells: A Full-Color Guide to More Than 4,200 of the World's Marine Shells

by R. Tucker Abbott and S. Peter Dance

Book Overview

This is one of the most amazing shell books of all times and it was a phenomenal reference guide through out the many years that it remained in print. For many collectors it was the standard reference... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525932690
• ISBN13: 9780525932697
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 3.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Best Sea Shell Identifier

I have been a shell collector for a very long time now. This is now my second copy of this book, as I have worn the first copy out. It is the most comprehensive identifier book around. The color photos are excellent, and the amount of species depicted is impressive! This book, along with Jerome M. Eisenberg's A Collectors Guide to the Sea Shells of the World, are probably the only two books on Sea Shells, a novice collector will ever need. The serious collector will also benefit from these books as well.

A must have for every seashell collector's library.

We have used the Compendium since it was first published as our primary identification reference. It is well organized, the pictures clear and colorful. It is a valued reference used by many in our museum library.

The best seashell book ever!

Since childhood, I've loved the beach and seashells. In our library are a dozen or so books on shells, but this is undoubtedly the best I've ever read. Small, unimportant shells that abound on the Gulf Coast are difficult to find in ordinary books, resulting in the fact that I'd picked them up since childhood, but didn't know what they were. I know now, thanks to the "Compendium of Seashells." If a person could have only one book on seashells, this is the one to buy.

praise for an excellent book

This excellent and well organized reference work contains 4,200 full colour photos of dead shells and is designed for the amateur collector. All categories of marine shells are described and illustrated from all the oceans of the world. It includes geographical and ecological information on over 180 species of cowries, 334 cones, 132 volutes and 140 scallops. It is also invaluable for anyone who is interested in identifying what they find along the seashore or see in the ocean. I have owned this book since 1992 and have not come across a superior book on the same subject. However it is in this day and age sad to see all those thousands of dead marine creatures and I would certainly not encourage anyone to collect shells as a hobby. Lets protect and preserve the marine environment for future generations... For divers or indeed budding shell collectors who are interested in seeing/identifying live shells in their natural habitat. I would highly recommend 'Nudibranchs and Sea Snails' by Helmut Debelius [over 1000 excellent colour photos of living subjects] This book focuses on the Indo-Pacific region and is the best book I have ever seen on this subject illustrating living creatures. If the people who collected shells could see the stunning beauty of the live animal I am sure they would have second thoughts about killing them either directly or by proxy.

A great aid in classifying seashells.

In starting to classify shells this book was recomemded to me by several people. My sister and I both purchased this book. She was lucky enough to find one sign by Dr. Abbott. This book has helped us numerous times. The pictures are good for helping identify the shells. The information on the shells is also very helpful.