We purchase collections - One Piece, Part or All

Rick & Deanna Russell Collection

(Now On-line and available at mineral shows and North Star Minerals) 

The Russell Collection was one of the top collections of fine Midwest minerals in existence, rich in specimens from Southern Illinois, Viburnum Trend, Elmwood District, Ohio and Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Russell began collecting in the 1960s mostly in active quarry operations when access granted unhindered collecting. Wile Rick worked for General Electric as an engineer he made frequent weekend trips to buy minerals direct from local dealers and miners in Southern Illinois, Elmwood,Tennessee and the Viburnum Trend area of Missouri. At one point the collection numbered some 1500 + specimens, batches and lots were sold off in the last 4-5 years, the last lot of some 54 premier pieces acquired by North Star Minerals in May, 2011. 

Henry (Hank) & Mildred Malkin Collection

(Pending on-line postings and available at North Star Minerals and mineral shows) 

Henry & Mildred Malkin collected from about 1961-the late 1980s. The collection is a 'window into the past' of a bygone era when mineral collecting was possible on every level, field collecting in quarries, road-cuts, open park land and private land with just a nod of approval from the landowner. Mr. & Mrs. Malkin collected dozens of great calcite specimens from the Pugh Quarry, Ohio in 1962, hundreds of fine sand calcites from South Dakota, traded for or purchased a variety of Mexican minerals, and assorted specimens from Midwest locations. 

Franz Walzel Collection 

Mr. Walzel collected, c. 1968-1980, and specialized in Romanian and Trepca minerals from active mining of the time and historical locations. He acquired a broad suite of mineral species from both districts and kept well documented and detailed notes on location, date of acquisition, species, etc. on index cards. The Walzel Collection comprises some 140 + specimens.

(Pending on-line postings and available at North Star Minerals and shows) Rick Nelson Collection Mr. Nelson collected from worldwide locations with a focus on active districts of the day, namely, Peru, Mexico, India, Brazil and various locations in the U.S. I acquired a small batch of specimens from his collection, about a dozen pieces, from various worldwide locations. (Pending on-line posting and available at North Star Minerals and mineral shows)