Other People's Things...

[trehopr1]

Over these last 20 odd years I've had the privilege to "cull" through some old collections. Of the lot, I would say a couple
were quite good;while the rest fell somewhere between neglected and stressed. I have been humbled by some of the fine
work and accorded care that I've seen done on these collections. Yet, I feel compelled to save what good things I can out
of respect to the previous caretaker as well as to the specimens.
Below, you will see a brief "sampling" of some of the marvelous specimens I feel I've saved from an un-certain future. Most
are no doubt common things by most seasoned collectors standards but, I enjoy and appreciate all of them just the same. I
still see them with the wide eyed wonder of my youth. Each drawer offers a cornucopia of colors, patterns, and wing shapes.
At a later time I shall post additional drawers of recoveries as I come across them...

[trehopr1]

This is my 2nd drawer of World Papilionidae. All are recoveries...
I have at least 7 Papilionid recovery drawers.
The oldest specimen here, is in the 3rd column/bottom (P. glaucus/intermediate)
New York, Long Island, July 1900, leg.E.Shoemaker

[trehopr1]

This fine assortment all came from one collection.
I call it my European Mix drawer although some of
the specimens have full data from localities in Morocco.
Europe does have some very pretty species and this
drawer is only a mere sampling of what can be found.
Fantastic temperate fauna...

[trehopr1]

This is my European Lycaenidae drawer 1.
I really love all these "pennies from heaven".
They are also among the most difficult to find 
well prepared material of. Quality like this is 
really only achieved through quick action in
preparation.
I may never know the names of all these gems
but, they sure make for a nice drawer when placed
in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement.

[bobw]

Yeah, quite some find, that one!

I don't know what the 7th one down in the European mix drawer is, but it doesn't look very European to me.

[wollastoni]

Nov 30, 2017 7:50:13 GMT bobw said:

don't know what the 7th one down in the European mix drawer is, but it doesn't look very European to me.

Looks like Parantica pumila from Vanuatu

[jhyatt]

Lovely specimens! The labels look modern, I see. Do you retain the old original labels, or do you relabel everything when you accession specimens from old collections? I usually retain old labels, and if their paper is failing, add a new one below the old.
Cheers,
jh

[trehopr1]

For the most part I leave the original labels as they are. I did cherry-pick a couple of smaller collections from the 80's/early 90's but, most are from older collections. I have found that serious enthusiasts nearly always have small well printed or handwritten data labels. Whereas, novice enthusiasts tend to make large labels or have what I term "envelope scrap" data (handwritten envelope info.) attached. It is here in this situation where I will print a new label for the specimen as the novice labels are too un-sightly for me.
Regarding that 7th specimen in my European Mix drawer; bobw + 0livier hit it on the head. Yes, it is the odd-man out (so to speak) and technically does not belong however, I felt compelled to leave it as everything within the drawer was personally collected by the same man.
Old collections are a treat to go thru when they do come up. It is something akin to going to an Insect fair (the items are prepared and you are paying for them.) Of coarse, timing and money is everything; so arrive a little too late and you get the leavings or arrive somewhat cash strapped and you probably will have to look past anything really worth a damn...
It's all fun and refreshing just the same as Insect fairs don't exist here in the U.S.(for the most part). It is also the only way for one to get certain rarities that can no longer be had on the open market these days.

[jhyatt]

Somehow I always find out about old collections the day after someone else buys them. Sad... "A day late and a dollar short" is the old saying tht seems to apply to me.

I must admit that I have a number of specimens with "envelope scrap" labels (info cut out of the triangle), but that's because I have a lot of eastern European material and am totally incapable of making out the collectors' handwriting. German and French material is seldom a problem, but old CSSR handwriting is incomprehensible to me. Snipping out the original writing and putting it on the pin seems safer than misreading what's handwritten on the envelope.

Cheers,
jh

[trehopr1]

I agree wholeheartedly jhyatt in keeping those incomprehensible labels as someone else someday may actually be able to read and make sense of them.
And yes, I too have been a "day late or a dollar short" on some of these old collection escapades so I have missed out on some desirable items over the years. The P. Homerus is one of the few crowning achievements in timing and available money that have worked for me (as far as rarities go).
I once had a shot at getting a P. lampsacus male but, turned it down as the price was still kind of stiff and the specimen had been repaired on one hindwing.

[deliasfanatic]

Many years ago, I received some Russian Parnassius with handwritten data on the envelopes. I can read printed Cyrillic, but these had cursive Cyrillic data! I found a library book that could transliterate it, which worked fairly well. In more recent years, it's been much simpler just to photograph the data and email it to a Russian friend who translated for me.

[siliquofera]

Nov 30, 2017 4:48:06 GMT trehopr1 said:

Over these last 20 odd years I've had the privilege to "cull" through some old collections. Of the lot, I would say a couple
were quite good;while the rest fell somewhere between neglected and stressed. I have been humbled by some of the fine
work and accorded care that I've seen done on these collections. Yet, I feel compelled to save what good things I can out
of respect to the previous caretaker as well as to the specimens.
Below, you will see a brief "sampling" of some of the marvelous specimens I feel I've saved from an un-certain future. Most
are no doubt common things by most seasoned collectors standards but, I enjoy and appreciate all of them just the same. I
still see them with the wide eyed wonder of my youth. Each drawer offers a cornucopia of colors, patterns, and wing shapes.
At a later time I shall post additional drawers of recoveries as I come across them...

What is the one with the pinkish/purple and green? Beautiful

[Paul K]

Dec 12, 2017 4:26:24 GMT siliquofera said:

Nov 30, 2017 4:48:06 GMT trehopr1 said:

Over these last 20 odd years I've had the privilege to "cull" through some old collections. Of the lot, I would say a couple
were quite good;while the rest fell somewhere between neglected and stressed. I have been humbled by some of the fine
work and accorded care that I've seen done on these collections. Yet, I feel compelled to save what good things I can out
of respect to the previous caretaker as well as to the specimens.
Below, you will see a brief "sampling" of some of the marvelous specimens I feel I've saved from an un-certain future. Most
are no doubt common things by most seasoned collectors standards but, I enjoy and appreciate all of them just the same. I
still see them with the wide eyed wonder of my youth. Each drawer offers a cornucopia of colors, patterns, and wing shapes.
At a later time I shall post additional drawers of recoveries as I come across them...

What is the one with the pinkish/purple and green? Beautiful

View Attachment

Graphium weiskei from New Guinea.
One of my favourite Graphium species.
It is common species.

[trehopr1]

G. weiskei is a pretty little number and indeed common in the hobby. However, it is surprising how sometimes even common species may not be all that easy to get in what I consider "Nice condition". I probably saw nearly 30 specimens in various collections (and passed them all up); before snagging this good one. Lots of wing mars, some pitiful mounting, stains, etc.
But, the "hunt" for cherry items in old collections remains one of the challenges I enjoy. I don't have access to Insect fairs and I don't purchase papered leps because A1 quality seems to have a wide ranging meaning. So, I am left to either catch things myself or find them when I can via old collections. Some years ago I managed a trip up to Toronto to see a small Insect fair/ Reptile show going on. I blew through $500 in about 45 min.but, I sure had a blast ! Lots of nice choices to be had. The show was dis-continued unfortunately, after that. Now only Quebec offers a once a year show which is twice the distance for me.

[Paul K]

Toronto insect fair was closed few years ago. Therefor I only attand it twice. I asked Ken Thorne the organizer of that event and the owner of internet insect store and the answer was: not enough interest and sell, no vendors either.
By the way I can highly recommend Ken as couple of times the specimen was not A1 up to my standard and he gladly send second specimen at no cost, no risk taken.