About Us

Bouchetaria aenigma - "legend" or lie?
     Nearly all serious Cypraeidae collectors are familiar with the legendary Bouchetaria aenigma. Owing to its unique form, aenigma has been placed in its own genus, Bouchetaria. It has a relatively wide deep-sea distribution in the Mozambique Channel, ranging from the northern coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, to the northern tip of Madagascar and the Glorioso Islands. There are only between 10-20 of the specimens known to have been found, making it one of the most coveted Cypraeidae species of all. Photo credit: Castelin, M. & Lorenz, F.... Read more...
Have a collection to sell?
If you’re looking to sell shells — whether individual specimens or a collection — we’d love to talk with you! We take the time to look closely, ask questions, and treat every shell with the respect it deserves. Whether you’re selling an entire collection or just a few specimens, we’re happy to help you explore your options. What to send us You don’t need to have everything perfectly organized. To get started, it helps if you can share: Clear photos of the shells (group photos are fine) Species names or... Read more...
Empty spot in your collection?
One of the things we care most about at World Shells USA is helping collectors find the shells they’re actually looking for — not just what happens to be listed at the moment. If there’s a species (or a list of species) you’ve been searching for, whether it’s fairly common or one of the hardest shells out there, we want to hear about it. When you reach out to us about a shell you’re looking for, we want to know: The exact species, subspecies, or variety you're after What quality... Read more...