Bonhams Natural History Sale – December 6

From miniatures to museum pieces…

On Sunday, Bonhams and Butterfields, Los Angeles, offers over 100 fine mineral specimens. According to the estimates, holiday shopping can be affordable, with several lots starting out in the $250–$350 range. Many of such lots come from the “Property of an Encino, CA Collector.” Named names, such as Grieger’s of Pasadena (Lot 2185) and Robert Pogats of La Jolla (2188 and 2195), will be familiar to collectors who’ve done their homework. Fifteen rough-and-cut combos are offered, several at estimates designed to please. But if money is no object, perhaps the “largest known thunderegg in the world” (2067).

The sale also features several carvings, such as a 145-lb. lapis lazuli sculpture (2079) and “The Winter Palace” music box fashioned from rock crystal, diamonds, and aquamarine, pictured on the catalog’s cover above (2096). Among the mineral specimen highlights:

• “The Bonsai Tree” crystallized gold on quartz, from the Eagle’s Nest Mine in California’s Placer County (2106)
• Two “Yowah Nut” opals, from Koroit, Queensland (2138 and 2139)
• Many specimens from the collection of the well-known Massachusetts collector, the late Prof. Marvin D. Rausch, including gorgeous blue-green fluorite twinned crystals (2144)
• A rare 5.25-inch Ukrainian heliodor from the famous Wolodarsk-Wolynskii pegmatite district (2149)
• A mind-bending rhodochrosite slice from Catamarca, Argentina, about which the catalog states, “One should not expect to see a comparable specimen on the market again” (2180)
• Another rhodochrosite, this a large cabinet specimen from the now-closed Sweet Home Mine in Colorado’s Park county (2203A)

A single page from the Minerals section of this Sunday’s sale catalog shows the diversity of the Brazilian offerings, from a 9-inch tourmaline crystal at left (Pederneira) to the gemmy sphene miniature (Capelinha, Minas Gerais) and the multicolored tourmaline on bladed albite (Urubu Mine). The apatite crystals at lower right are from Oxford County, Maine. (Image © Bonhams 1793 Ltd.)

View the complete catalog. [back to top]

Tucson Time – February 2–14, 2010

After the holidays, we’re looking forward to the world’s greatest gem and mineral show in February. One-stop general information about individual shows can be obtained from the Tucson EZ-Guide.

Pala International will be represented in Tucson as follows. We look forward to seeing our many friends there. Visit the Pala International Show Schedule for future events.

AGTA GemFair

Pala joins nearly 100 exhibitors for this annual extravaganza. Some highlights from the schedule that may interest mineral lovers and dealers:

• Books for Gem Lovers features three authors we’ve spotlighted in Pala’s Gem News in recent months: John Koivula, Ronald Ringsrud, and Richard Wise (Thu)
• Cindy Edelstein, of Jewelers Resource Bureau, explains how to use social networking tools (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) to promote your products (Thu)
• Robert Weldon, of Gemological Institute of America, documents the world of ametrine in easternmost Ángel Sandoval Province of Bolivia, with videography by GIA’s Pedro Padua (Thu)
• Alan Hodgkinson regales with “Intriguing Gem Stories” (Fri)
• Edward Boehm, of JOEB Enterprises, on “Spinel: A Royal Gem” (Fri)
• Leela Hutchison, of Leela’s Divine Play of Gemstones, explores those amazing selenite caves of Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico, which we covered in 2007 (Sat)

Event: AGTA GemFair
When: February 2–7
Where: Tucson Convention Center
Booth: 1016–1018

9th Annual Westward Look Mineral Show

Pala International and two dozen other world-class mineral dealers shack up at a Sonoran Desert resort.

• Collector Day (Sat) features Pala’s Will Larson and selections from his Japan and worldwide collections (see this preview from our October edition)
• Mineral Artists (Sun) looks at the work of special guests Eberhard Equit, Hildegard Könighofer, Wendell Wilson, and Susan Robinson, as well as others whose paintings and illustrations will be displayed. Gamini Ratnavira, illustrator of our featured mineral specimen this month, will be included in the exhibition

Event: 9th Annual Westward Look Mineral Show
When: February 5–8
Where: Westward Look Resort
Suite: 236

See Pala International’s page on the Westward Look Show site.

56th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

TGMS is the largest gem and mineral show in the country. This year’s theme is “Gems and Gem Minerals”—a Pala International specialty.

Event: 55th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
When: February 11–14
Where: Tucson Convention Center
Booth: Aisle 5 East

Ronald Ringsrud has informed us that the Geo-Literary Society will host a book signing (Emeralds, A Passionate Guide) and lecture by Ringsrud in the Crystal Ballroom at the Tucson Convention Center during the TGMS, Friday, February 12, at 3:30 p.m.

The next day, Saturday, February 13, Richard Wise will appear at TGMS at 11:00 a.m., with a signing (The French Blue) and talk on “The History and Mystery of the Hope Diamond.” [back to top]

Tucson Transit Tips

The I-10 Widening Project is complete; therefore the Gem Ride shuttle is discontinued. Many shows, however, will offer their own shuttles. View your transit and parking options here. [back to top]

Tuesday, December 1st – Oceanview Adventure

Earlier this week, Will Larson happened to be in the right place at the right time, and tells us about it…

Nothing like starting off the new month with a bit of excitement! Last month when I visited the Oceanview Mine, the pegmatite had the early signs of showing some richness: a little bit of lepidolite here and some black tourmaline there. But two blasts later and about ten feet deeper—it is rich. Purple showing everywhere all along the left wall, and big black tourmalines in the vein.

Purple and black. “Purple showing everywhere…

…and big black tourmalines in the vein.” (Photos: Will Larson)

Jeff Swanger and his motley crew have already excavated some small pockets, which divulged small kunzite crystals, some etched morganites, and black to green tourmalines. A few more feet and it could turn into something really exciting.

Stone soup. “Lucky guests at the screen tables.” (Photos: Will Larson)

Earlier last week some lucky guests at Jeff’s screen tables (see digforgems.com) found a beautiful bicolor tourmaline believed to be from this area! Hopefully some more lucky guests in the coming weeks will find what Jeff misses. [back to top]

Chips & Chunks

Bonsai. This delicately shaped gold on quartz is offered in the Bonhams sale Sunday. (Photo © Bonhams 1793 Ltd.)

California Gold Prospecting Pictorial

The recession has brought new fortune hunters to tried-and-true gold prospecting spots in California, such as the San Gabriel River, which flows (several dams notwithstanding) from a source a few miles northeast of Azusa. The relatively mild climate has allowed some folks to take up residence near the site of their search.

While prospecting is “old as the hills,” individuals now take advantage of newer, mechanized methods, allowing them to move beneath the riverbed. Indeed, sales of mining equipment have bucked the recession, according to a BBC photo essay released last month.

The ten-photo slide show depicts oldtimers and newcomers engaged in a variety of techniques for a variety of purposes. [back to top]

Ronald Ringsrud in SoCal

Southern Californians will have two chances this month to see Ronald Ringsrud, author of Emerald, A Passionate Guide, at Nevada Mineral & Book Company, 342 S. Tustin Street, Orange, CA 92866.

• Friday, December 18: Book signing 5–9 p.m., with a one-hour lecture and slideshow at 7:30
• Saturday, December 19: Book signing 10 a.m.–12 noon with a one-hour lecture at 11 a.m.

In the spirit of the season, a raffle will be held each day for a half-kilo of Colombian coffee beans that Ringsrud will bring back from his December trip to the Bogotá emerald market and Colombian emerald mines. Mineral specimens of emerald will be on display and for sale. Colombian coffee will be served.

Stocking stuffer. Ringsrud will have emerald mineral specimens on hand for display and sale at his Southern California appearances this month. (Photo courtesy Ronald Ringsrud)

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Mineralientage München 46th Munich Mineral Show
October 30–November 1, 2009

Indian crystals, Tyrolean treats, decorators’ diversions

Pala International’s Bill Larson and Will Larson will attend this major mineral show…

This year’s special exhibit is titled “India’s Hidden Natural Treasures” and will include the “Emperor of India,” a 10-kilogram aquamarine crystal from Karur, in the Indian state of Tamilnadu. Also displayed amongst other treasures will be a pure quartz crystal carved in the likeness of Ganesha—the centerpiece of the exhibition space designed in the style of a maharaja’s palace, according to show press releases.

The “Emperor of India” aquamarine is now in the collection of private Italian collector Adalberto Giazotto. (Photo courtesy Mineralientage München)

The Munich show also features domestic delights—well, nearby, anyway. “Alpine Treasures: From the Mountain to the Display Case” will include 300 minerals from the Tyrol region that straddles the Austria–Italy border. The specimens, drawn from different, mainly private collections from the Naturmuseum Bolzano (Museum of Nature South Tyrol in northern Italy), will be accompanied by several anecdotal explanations of provinence and discovery. Professional crystal hunter Franz von Arx (English translation here) also will be on hand. Last year he c0-discovered huge crystals in a cave on the peak of Planggenstock in central Switzerland. Crystals weighing over 350 kilos each will be displayed. (Video stream of the crystals is available from Schweizer Fernsehen.)

Swiss crystals discovered a year ago by Franz von Arx, left, will be featured at this year’s Munich show. (Photo courtesy Mineralientage München)

Natural stone has long been used for wall cladding, but “Natural Objects – Artistically Staged” will examine other creative uses such as backlit salt crystal walls and “stony artworks.”

For more information visit the show website. See the Pala International Show Schedule for future events. [back to top]

See our ad in this year’s program.

Also in Germany: terra mineralia
celebrates a birthday

The remarkable collection of Dr. Erika Pohl Ströher—dubbed terra mineralia—celebrates its first birthday October 23–25 in its home at the famous Technical University of Freiberg in Saxony. According to the exhibition website:

The positive feedback and interest of the visitors has overwhelmed everyone, making the last year appear like a fairytale. Therefore the anniversary weekend is going to stand under the sign of fairytales with a specially designed mineralogical storyline. Can the copper-smith break the ban of the evil fairy sulphur flower with the help of magician Calcitus and find the heart of king Aquamarine? A heart that allows him to win princess Rubina over. More details about the program for young and old will follow soon...

Not from the Munich show (lest you think we slipped this in from the special India exhibition at Mineralientage München). Above, visitors examine a large Shiva lingam on opening day in the terra mineralia Asia hall. (Photo: Detlev Müller)

Visitors to the Munich show will want to head north to see this collection, which we profiled in last October’s Mineral News. More than two-thirds of the collection’s 5,000 specimens remain on view. The collection, amassed over 60 years of collecting, is on permanent loan in Germany.

Calcite, USA, size: 14 x 7 cm., from the terra mineralia exhibition. (Photo: Jörg Wittig)

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Specimens with Altitude

Pala’s Will Larson reports on the Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show

It’s that time of year again! The Denver show is here. It’s a hustle and bustle. Set-up day is always a cheer—well, once it’s over. The hallways of the Holiday Inn were crowded on opening day and people were moving between rooms: Make haste thy collectors! Reunited with friend and foe on the battlefield of business. The workplace has not changed with the passing of time; familiar faces and new ones to meet, and some new material was uncovered, too.

Room 183. Pala’s Bill Larson, left, chats with Casey Jones as Dawn Minette browses the Pala International offerings at the Holiday Inn. (Photo: Will Larson)

Grabbing our attention first, at the Holiday Inn show, were many colorless phenakite crystals from Nigeria, amounting to about one kilo in fellow Southern Californian John Garsow’s room. Intriguing, etched faces amplified these crystals; some weighed close to 100 grams. The supply of beautiful green andradite garnet crystals on matrix from Madagascar were again in supply. These garnets are mostly demantoid but we are finding out that some of the larger crystals turn out to be topazolite. Continuing through the Holiday Inn, Colorado’s Pinnacle 5 Minerals in room 103 had many wonderful specimens of amazonite on smoky quartz from the Smoky Hawk claim’s Smithsonian pocket in the state’s Teller County. One in particular was a beautiful cluster of amazonite and quartz all perfect with no damage, no repair, and with good size, about 3 inches by 5 inches across.

“The Wave.” This quartz from Cumberland, England, sold quickly when it was offered by Texas dealer Doug Wallace of Mineral Search. (Photo: Will Larson)

Into room 190 of the Holiday Inn, Czech Republic’s KARP Minerals had a private cache of large crystals of cuprite from Kazakhstan. One of the cuprite specimens was a tree-shaped copper; the cuprites were covering it and dangling down from the copper, quite pretty. Also a massive cluster of cuprite crystals that were very large, lustrous, and with very little damage. This was one of the most impressive cuprites I’ve seen.

Cuprite on copper. This specimen from Kazakhstan is offered by Pala through The Collector, Inventory #17460. (Photo: John McLean)

Across the train tracks on the other side of the road is the Quality Inn. Here there are a lot of wholesale dealers with material from around the world. We saw a great amount of quartz and fossils but mostly commercial quality. What caught our attention was gorgeous fire opal from Mexico: beautiful opals that had all sorts of iridescent colors from reds to blues to greens, and the material ranged from beautiful white-blueish to the deep red material. One in particular caught my attention; it was a beautiful crystal with dots of colors all over it that sparkled in the sun.

Mexican opal. A wide variety offered by Ópalos y Artesanías Mexicanas, from Jalisco. (Photo: Will Larson)

The Merchandise Mart

Everyone loves a good set-up day, and the Merchandise Mart’s was no exception. More cases and minerals, fossils and jewelry, everything you can imagine, going to and fro, from truck to booth. Display cases this year consisted of fine minerals from around the world. Special features were “Minerals that Do Things,” by the Junior Museum of Central Pennsylvania, and the replica of the Crown of the Bavarian Queen, exhibited by the Mineralogisches Museum am Steinmann-Institut from Bonn, Germany.

Merchandise Mart. Setting up in the main hall. (Photo: Will Larson)

Once again, collectors Scott Rudolph and Keith Proctor put on a beautiful display of fine worldwide minerals. New material on display at the Merchandise Mart consisted of a new find of Vera Cruz amethysts, which were a beautiful purple color on matrix, some of which were highly aesthetic with great form. Also from Mexico we saw a new find of aurichalcite in calcite; Rob Lavinsky and Arizona dealer Marcus Origlieri had these specimens, but sadly most had just enough damage to make the sophisticated collector have a very sad face. Marcus also had marshite (CuI) specimens, up to three quarters of an inch, that were found in a copper mine in Western Siberia near the Kazakhstan border.

Arkenstone’s Rob Lavinsky had some of the new matrix Namibian aquamarine and schorl specimens, but these were of a new size range I hadn’t seen before, ranging from about 5 to 10 inches across. Collector Marshall Sussman allowed us to peek through a wonderful collection of Namibian minerals he’d bought from another collector. In it were two fluorite spinel twins the likes of which I had never seen before. Because they looked like tourmaline pencils, I couldn’t get over the fact they were fluorites. Cool! We were also lucky to be shown by Rob and Marshall some amazing spike-balls of creedite that were a tan-orange color—also a new find from Mexico. My host in Germany this summer, Marcus Budil, had a room full of beautiful specimens from his trip to East Africa: the new topazolites and demantoids as well as some beautiful tanzanite crystals, small chrome tourmalines, and diopsides.

All in all, the shows were busy and people seemed excited to be in the mineral loop once again! Hope to see you all again soon in Munich!

The Denver Gem and Mineral Show at the Merchandise Mart features museum exhibitors from here and abroad, including the American Museum of Natural History, National Museums of Scotland, Royal Ontario Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Denver Museum of Nature and Science (two departments), and Mineralogisches Museum am Steinmann-Institut, pictured above. At center is a replica of the Bavarian Queen’s Crown. (Photo: Will Larson)

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Lyon Mineral Show Features Famous Larson Specimen

Iconic rhodochrosite graces exhibition poster

The 34th International Show of Minerals, Fossils & Gems, in Lyon, France, features on its poster a famous rhodochrosite from the collection of Pala’s Bill Larson. The unique specimen, known as the “Snail” for obvious reasons, hails from the N’Chwaning Mine in South Africa—the same locality as the rhodocrhosites that illustrate son Will Larson’s article about collecting below. The photograph was taken by Jeff Scovil, who is himself the subject of two videos available from BlueCap Productions.

The Lyon show, November 13–15, will include 80 international dealers, minerals of the world from a private collection, thumbnail specimens from sevreal private collections, gems from the Association Française de Gemmologie, and more. Hélas, the only place l’Escargot célèbre will be displayed in Lyon is on the show’s poster… [back to top]

Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show Sees Continued Uptick

Troubled times ignore the mines

Treasured Minerals by Russ Behnke is a free PDF download from the Sainte-Marie show website.

The 2009 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines show “exceeded all expectations,” according to a newsletter issued September 8 by the show’s organizers. “Despite a difficult period around the world, and the last minute scares due to concerns about an epidemic,” the report stated that “[the show] saw, yet again, an increase in the number of exhibitors and of visitors this year.” Visitors numbered 29,300—a third of them “professionals”—and 985 exhibitors representing 60 countries.

Photos of the 2009 show are available [since removed]. Also offered is a free PDF version of collector-dealer Russ Behnke’s 2008 book, Treasured Minerals. [back to top]

Pala’s Featured Mineral Specimen: Kearsarge Lode Silver

This month we feature a pleasant little silver from the Kearsarge Lode in Michigan. This is a crystaline specimen that seems to branch out like a tree, with roots and all. Very aesthetic cluster that would work well in any metals or USA collection.

Shake a tail feather. Silver shown at two different angles. Dimensions: 42 x 38 x 10 mm. Weight: 25.2 grams. There is an “odd” perspective in the photo below. Can you see the rooster? He’s waving at you. (Photos: John McLean)

The Kearsarge Mine is in northwest Michigan, in the Keweenaw penninsula, and produced large amounts of copper starting in 1886. Peak production occurred between 1887 and 1897, in the form of 14.5 million pounds of refined copper. These mines also produced some of the best silver specimens in the Keweenaw region. The entire mine was eventually closed in 1956. More info from Mindat.

Vintage label from the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum at Michigan Tech.

Interested? Email us or give us a call. [back to top]

A Portrait of the Collector as a Young Man

Will Larson to be “Collector Day” guest
at 2010 Westward Look Mineral Show

It’s not too early to be thinking about next year’s Westward Look Mineral Show at Tucson. In anticipation, we’re taking you behind the scenes of Will Larson’s Japanese and worldwide collections, which will be in the annual “Collector Day” spotlight, on Saturday, February 6, 2010.

The Japanese collection

In 2004 I traveled with my classmate Shoko Miyazaki to Japan for the first time during my senior year in high school for spring break. Spring is one of the most beautiful times in Japan, as the sakura (cherry blossoms) are blooming. Later that fall I started my freshman year at Santa Clara University, where I decided to take Japanese for my language requirement, which I continued for three years and received a minor in Japanese language. I fell in love with the country as a whole and returned for six more trips by myself to Japan, some for business, others for pleasure, and once to study abroad.

Chalcopyrite, Arakawa Mine, Ugo (Akita Prefecture), Japan. While in Gene Meieran’s collection this specimen won the Lidstrom award at Tucson. From Will Larson’s Japanese collection. (Photo: Mia Dixon)

After my first visit to Japan, when I attended mineral shows I began to pay attention to specimens from Japan and realized how rare and difficult-to-get Japanese minerals really are. During my travels, I made a point of visiting museums to see what kind of material was produced in Japan, since much of it was unearthed before I was born. In 2006 I went back to Japan for the 19th International Mineral Association conference, in Kobe, Japan. During this trip I visited the Ikuno Silver Mine in Hyogo Prefecture, with Bunno-sensei. At this mine is a mineral museum that houses the famous Tunashiro Wada collection, which is one of the best preserved collections of Japanese minerals in the world. The Wada collection has everything from fantastic blue topaz, to large orthoclase crystals, to beautiful chalcopyrite. It also has one of one of the largest Japanese stibnites I’ve ever seen, standing a meter tall. Therefore, I came to find that much of the material is in museums or private collections and not for sale. This scarcity has challenged me and ignited my passion to collect Japanese minerals.

In 2005 I began working the Tokyo Mineral Show in Ikebukuro and picked up some small Japanese minerals, but nothing to speak of. The first major addition of Japanese specimens to my collection was in Tucson when SoCal dealer Casey Jones had a group of four fine Japanese minerals which were turned down by a customer. This allowed me to trade Casey a few of my worldwide specimens for these four pieces—danburite, orthoclase, chalcopyrite, and a Japan-law twin quartz. Westward Look show founder Wayne Thompson also helped me out with a beautiful chalcopyrite twin on pyrite, which he probably could have sold for double.

Study hall. Will Larson, above left, and fellow traveler Bunno-sensei inquire why Japanese mineral specimens are all too rare: they’re all in the Wada collection! Pictured below is a foot-long stibnite specimen. (Photos: Will Larson)

Ikebukuro the next year was good to me, as I approached the local firm Komuro Minerals for Japanese specimens and was able to purchase three beautiful rhodochrosites, all of which have different colors and forms. I also received a few pieces from the Grieger Collection, including one very nice stibnite. I saw a few pieces in the Gene Meieran Collection, which I admired very much. Later I was able to acquire the Lidstrom (best in Tucson Show) award-winning chalcopyrite from Gene’s collection in Denver thanks to Rob Lavinsky, as he let me trade for it. Rob has had the biggest impact on my collection because he understood that I was young and could not afford the minerals, and was willing to work with me. I also was lucky enough to have many self-collected specimens that Rob could sell and take on trade to help finance my Japanese mineral collection.

My good friends, collector Moriyama-san and his wife, also have been very kind to me throughout the years; I have not been able to get many specimens from him as he deals mostly in fluorite, but at this year’s Denver show he gave me a fine quartz crystal, one of only four in the find. Also at Denver this year I purchased from Marcus Origlieri a fine danburite cluster, and San Diego County dealer Donald Olson helped me with some andesine twin crystals, which he gave me along with some orthoclase crystals that were keystone. I continue to try and find new things at each show—if not to buy, then to study and learn their locations.

The worldwide collection

Of course, my collecting didn’t begin with Japan. You could say I’ve been collecting minerals since I was born. I was 8 months old for my first Tucson show at the Desert Inn and Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 1986, and since then I have not missed a Tucson show. My worldwide collection is a culmination of what I was able to assemble, thanks to the many people who have helped me throughout my youth in the mineral business as well as those who were willing to work with what I had. I have bought, sold, and traded ever since I can remember.

Rhodochrosites, N'chwaning Mines, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, demonstrating the variations found in a single locality. The specimen below features quartz druse. From Will Larson’s worldwide collection. (Photos: Mia Dixon)

Major additions to my collection began at the age of twelve when I was able to go on an epic adventure with my father to Burma, Vietnam, and Thailand. On this trip I was allowed a certain percentage of trade for the the goods we had purchased in Southeast Asia and sold, much of which I spent with New York dealer Stuart Wilensky. Thanks to his purchase of the material I was allowed to select pieces I liked and that greatly added to my worldwide collection. Some of these specimens were later traded to acquire Japanese minerals. I also collected Colorado minerals thanks to Arizona dealer Evan Jones who sold me a suite from his collection at a very reasonable price. I continued to build on this collection until I turned my focus towards Japanese minerals. Therefore I retain a heavy influence of Colorado specimens in my worldwide collection today.

I have been blessed with the ability to travel a lot and all over the world. My many trips to Burma and Thailand have allowed me to acquire gems and minerals that I have added to my collection, or used to trade for other pieces. Through all of these life-changing experiences I have been able to build up a collection of many minerals from around the world. The enjoyment of it all has been a dream.

Phenakite, Jos, Nigeria. From the Shining Stone (aka Salistone) mine—Okuta Didan in the Yoruba language. From Will Larson’s worldwide collection. (Photo: Mia Dixon)

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Pala at Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show
September 16–20, 2009

Amazonite from Yucca Hill in Colorado, 6.4 x 10 x 8.5 cm. This specimen is available. (Photo: John McLean)

Pala International will be at the Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show.

• When: Sept. 16–20, 2009
• Where: Holiday Inn Denver–Central, 4849 Bannock St.
  • Room 183
• Hours:
  Wed.–Sat.: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
  Sun.: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.

We look forward to seeing our many friends there. For more information visit the show website.

Visit the Pala International Show Schedule for future events. [back to top]

East Coast Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show

Spanns featured exhibitors at Springfield show

Note: We had hoped to send our August Mineral News out before last weekend, but were delayed. We hope the information here will be of interest nonetheless.

Last weekend West Springfield, Massachusetts played host to the East Coast Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, with 200 dealers from across the country offering their selections. The show included 55 wholesale dealers as well.

It’s a winner. Gail and Jim Spann, who received 2008’s Desautels Trophy in Tucson, are featured at this year’s East Coast show. See a copiously illustrated report on the 2008 trophy at The-Vug.com. (Photo: Above, Brandy Naugle, courtesy The-Vug.com)

Featured this year was the collection of Gail and Jim Spann of Rockwell, Texas, who have assembled upwards of three thousand specimens in only five years, making this their eastern seaboard debut. And, apparently, the family that collects together stays together: the Spanns discussed their secrets on Saturday afternoon.

Previous featured collections have included those of Herb and Monika Obodda, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, the Harvard Mineral Museum, Seaman Mineral Museum, Dawn Minette, Dan and Dianne Kile, amongst others. We’re pleased to note that in 2010, the 53 featured showcases of the East Coast show will contain selections from the collection of Bill Larson. Meanwhile, you can look for Bill this weekend on floor of this year’s show.

Red beryl. Gemstone and mineral illustration is a time-honored tradition amongst collectors, as may be seen in this rendering of a Spann specimen, by Bay State native Fred Wilda, who also showed at the East Coast show. Gail Spann carries on the tradition herself; her watercolors accompanied the couple’s featured exhibition. (Illustration: Fred Wilda, courtesy Martin Zinn Expositions)

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