Who among us who has visited the seashore has resisted the urge to collect shells to take home? Very few, I am sure. Shells are beautiful, varied in form and colour, and speak to us of a realm hidden from our view, a world of mystery, a kingdom of wonder, and a link to the very early days of life on Earth. What else fills all these niches? And shells are free, and available equally to everyone, no matter their status in life. A pauper can amass a collection equal to that of a millionaire.
There is a bit of an addiction to shell collecting that only kicks in when collecting is possible. In the Bahamas in February I could not resist searching for conch shells and bringing them home. In a house where space is at a premium I need more shells like the proverbial hole in the head, but I can gaze at them now as I compose this review. And they make me happy!
This fabulous book, covering a staggering five thousand species, will enable you to go beyond the purely aesthetic appeal of shells, to an understanding of their origins, their geographic distribution, and their ecosystem functions. You will become acquainted with molluscs from the shallow waters of tropical seas, to coral reefs, to frigid polar shores, and shells cast up from the deepest parts of the ocean.
For the serious shell collector or conchologist a great deal of useful information is provided on collecting and storage techniques, with up-to-date taxonomy and systematics.
There is general agreement that the most satisfying way to build a collection is to visit beaches where you can find your own specimens. An alarming, yet all too familiar caveat from the book: "Nowadays, many beaches are sadly adorned with mounds of trash, and a good pair of gloves has become a necessary part of a beachcomber's outfit."
We do know how to ruin a good thing, don't we?
There is an excellent glossary of the terms used in the book, and a guide to the families that I found exceptionally useful.
The pages that comprise most of the book are nothing short of phenomenal.
Not only are they a feast for eyes, essential information is encapsulated in so scant a space. There is a picture of the external and internal views where applicable, the measurement to the nearest millimetre, the original taxonomic authority and the location. This will often be enough, but if you are serious about knowing more, here is the starting point.
Thank you Paul Callomon and Gary Rosenberg for a job very well done.
Seashells: A Compendium of Five Thousand of the World's Species - Princeton University Press
Paul Callomon and Gary Rosenberg
Hardcover - US$49.95 - ISBN 9780691265285
336 pages - 9 x 12.5 inches (22.5 x 31.25 cm)
5,400 + colour photographs
Publications date: 22 September, 2026
Sea shells have so much variety!
ReplyDeleteI like to look at shells also, especially unique ones. This sounds like a fantastic book, especially for the shell collector that travels the world. have a great week ahead. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteI used to collect sea shells as my parents' house is 5 mins away from the beach :-)
ReplyDeleteMy sister had an enormous shell collection. She had some large beautiful specimens that I guess she bought, surely didn't pick them up on the beach in Galveston, but besides that she had container after container of the shells she picked up on the beach. When she died I put them all in a big box and when we dug a trench on the beach and buried her ashes we threw all those little shells back in the gulf to be washed ashore again for someone else to find.
ReplyDeleteIt’s great that they will bring joy to others.
DeleteThis looks like a very interesting book to me, David.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was a child, we would go to the beach every now and then, I used to look for seashells and take a few home, which I kept safe.
All the best, Irma
I remember bringing seashells home as a child. This book sounds amazing. Thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteMy inner child never left me, I suppose, because I still bring them home!
DeleteMe gusta el libro David. Tengo algunas conchas y caracoles de los viajes y de vez en cuando los miro y me traen buenos recuerdos.
ReplyDeleteBlogger sigue fantidiando sin actualizar, esperemos que no se fastidie del todo.
Buena semana.
Un abrazo.
I am starting to wonder whether they will fix it, Laura.
DeleteSeashells are fascinating to me, as a lifelong inhabitant of the more-or-less landlocked prairies. When I was a little girl 60 years ago, my grandma had a HUGE conch shell which she used as a doorstop. Gawd alone knows where she obtained it. Then one day it went missing. She always secretly accused one of her adult daughters (my aunties) of having stolen it on a visit, and was quite bitter about it. The mystery was never solved, but we all missed the conch shell.
ReplyDeleteI'm home now from my latest jaunt and am back to daily blogging again.
Oh my gosh. Five thousand varieties! Who'd a thought. A well-written review, David. Your joy in the subject came shining through.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why they make you happy, i also had a lovely albeit small seashell collection during my childhood; they are so pretty ! the photographs are beautiful and it must be wonderful to discover so many different shells and learn about the creatures and worlds behind them. Gros bisous, dear David
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't pick up shells? And of course, most of the time I don't know what they are! So, this one looks especially useful. On another note, I can't remember if I told you that I've been bookmarking sites (going back through comments to get blogs.) So far, that's working!
ReplyDeleteLovely looking shells in there. I love those shells you put to your ear and you hear the sea roar.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fascinating read. And I thought I had a nice and varied collection.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I remember holding the bigger ones up to my ear to hear the sound of the ocean (or whatever it actually was.)
ReplyDeleteI think we all did that when we were young and impressionable!
DeleteOooh, I think I need this book! I know I shouldn’t, but I simply can’t resist bringing a few gorgeous shells home whenever I visit the beach. While most people are lying on the sand sunbathing, I’m walking along the water’s edge, seeing what treasures I can find. Thank you for sharing about this book!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have thought it possible to write a book about so many species of seashells.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are many more.
DeleteConservo algunas caracolas de mis recorrido por la playa.
ReplyDeleteGracias por tu recomendación.
I think the seashells are so beautiful, David. I bring some new ones home every time we are at the coast. Hugs and kisses, Marit
ReplyDeleteI bet you have a beautiful selection, Marit.
Delete...they are Mother Nature's finest architecture.
ReplyDeleteI have sent a email to blogger. If you like I can mail you the answer. Greets
ReplyDeleteThat would be great, Caroline.
DeleteHi David - yes childhood memories of shells ... we collected from 'To the Lighthouse' beach - the shells were pink coloured from the arsenic drain of a nearby early mine ... history in the making ... then Boris came along and spoilt my baby beach - where I learnt to walk. Such is life ... but your winter project sounds fun and challenging!! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteI am going to respond to your post about these beautiful shells, but I need your help right now.
My comments to Montse (Botanic Serrat) are ending up in her spam folder. I tried emailing her, but that ends up in the spam folder too. Now Montse probably thinks I haven't responded anymore, but would you please leave a message for her asking her to check her spam folder and retrieve me from there? Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to reach her.
You would be doing me a great favor.
Kind regards, Helma
Her site https://botanicmontserrat.blogspot.com/
I will do that right away, Helma. I wounder if this is related to the other issue with Blogger?
DeleteIf anyone else receives this message from Helma, please delete it. It appears to be a scam.
DeleteI think anyone who has ever spent some time at the seaside will have a container of seashells tucked away somewhere in the house. I grew up by the sea, and spent many hours of the beach picking up shells and sea glass. Still have a bowl of shells in the downstairs bathroom!
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI took great pleasure in collecting shells on my various trips, from different beaches in Italy, Greece and even in Malahide, just north of Dublin. The shells found their place in my flat, and seeing them always brought back memories of lovely holidays.
ReplyDeleteA book about that? How interesting! Thank you for sharing.
Greetings by Heidrun
You are correct in that people can't resist picking up a shell. I have hundreds from all of the US and then shells that my grandparents collected on their world trips. This book is perfect for any person collecting shells. Now for your comment on my blog. I hope you don't stop posting. I know blogger is frustrating but you serve a real purpose with the information you share on your posts. Everyone who comes here takes away knowledge about our world. Your are important here.
ReplyDeleteI learned a new word today: Conchologist. I loved picking up those conch shells in Ireland and listening to the ocean when I put one up to my ear and holding the little ones up to hear it too. Never ceased to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteThe book is astonishing.
XO
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