The World's Most Beautiful Seashells (Worlds Most Series) [Hardcover]

Leonard C. Hill (Author), James H. Carmichael (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Worlds Most Series | Publication Date: October 1995

The World's Most Beautiful Seashells won the Coffee Table Book Award of the National Association of Independent Publishers for 1996. It contains 305 large format, full color photographs of rare and lovely seashells. The photographer is James H. (Pete) Carmichael, whose nature photography has appeared widely in magazines such as Audobon, National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, etc. Pete is especially well-known for his work with shells, butterflies, and rainforests. The text is by Leonard Hill, a lifetime shell enthusiast, and a biologist employed by the US government who monitors the health of the oceans. At $32.95 in hardcover, the book has been considered an excellent value, and makes a great acquisition to the library of shell and nature enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As a child, I found few things more fascinating than seashells: from the age of 10 until 15, I would often stay awake all night classifying and sorting shells that friends and family had sent me from around the world, and my most joyous summers were spent on the coasts of Maine, North Carolina, Florida, Washington, and Puerto Rico, gathering shells from the briny wrack.

As an adult, I have encountered few more beautifully illustrated volumes of seashells than this book. All of my favorites are here: the wentletraps, resembling elaborate spiral staircases (and so valued for their beauty in the 1800s that a clandestine industry of counterfeit wentletraps made of rice paste developed in China); the Venus Comb Murex, which has the beauty of a goddess's most prized hairbrush; the humble but lavishly calligraphed Nerites; and other extraordinarily colorful or structurally elaborate homes of homely molluscs. (This book also provides good evidence for my hypothesis that indigenous architectures of a region are influenced by the architecture of indigenous organisms.) An absolutely stunning book, and sure to be a source of inspiration for children, naturalists, and artists.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Carmichael Pubns; 2 Sub edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884942032
• ISBN-13: 978-1884942037
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #558,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Seashells

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY & SUPERB CONTENT FOR AMAZING PRICE!, July 14, 2000

By 

passiflora "fandjcotton" (Santa Rita, Guam USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The World's Most Beautiful Seashells (Worlds Most Series) (Paperback)

While browsing for a shell guide book, I first put this one aside thinking it was merely an artsy coffee table book which would not have the information and quality technical photos of shells I was looking for. I finally opened the book and was very pleasantly surprised! The book has spectacular photography with an abundance of biographical information on shells and classifications, covering a generous and diverse variety. If all that wasn't enough, add a pleasing, affordible price and you've got one dynamite shell book!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real tribute to a famous Conchologist., October 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The World's Most Beautiful Seashells (Worlds Most Series) (Paperback)

Leonard Hill was a most fascinating man and shells were his passion. He died far too young, but fortunately left us with a really lovely book that will be remembered for many years to come. Just like the shells he sold with such care, this book shows the seashells as the jewels many of us have come to appreciate. This book is a tribute to his work and is highly recommended.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Shell Photographs and Excellent Text, March 18, 2005

By 

Elizabeth, the Traveler (Atlanta, Georgia) (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The World's Most Beautiful Seashells (Worlds Most Series) (Paperback)

The two authors have done an excellent job, not only of selecting truly beautiful shells from all over the world and doing an outstanding job with the photographs, they have also written very informative text for those who are new to shell collecting. The types of shells are representative and nicely organized.

While this may not be the first book you need to identify your beach shell collection if you are a new comer to shell collection you discover shortly to compare your own sheels to these and realize that in fact your own may compare well.

I especially enjoyed the collages of limpets turned on both sides with the wonderful greens and blue greens of quite ordinary Barbados Limpets.

I would recommend it as say a fifth purchase after some good idenfication compendia and shorter books on just starting the hobby, if you are a beginner.