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Is this small mineral collection worth anything?
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Author:  Railsplitter [ Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

Simple question: Is this collection of minerals from the USSR worth anything, now that the USSR no longer exists under that name? The samples or specimens seem fairly commonplace, but the box with Russian writing and whatnot struck me as a curiosity... I'm not a big fan of eBay or C/L, so where else might I sell this? At the local swap meet? I attach photos for clarity, though the box pics may be upside down, lol. Thanks in advance for any & all replies... Cheers! :smt002

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Author:  1bwana1 [ Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

That is the kind of starter collection that you buy a kid for a few dollars when at a rock show, or traveling from a tourist shop.

Almost zero value.

Author:  Icehut [ Mon May 10, 2021 12:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

There’s a guy who collects boxed collections like that, I might have read about him in the Mineralogical Record. It’s a nifty little kit of polished stones from a region with a spectacular history of lapidary, and incredible gem deposits. Easily $20. Check ebay.

Author:  glhays [ Mon May 10, 2021 1:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

Novelty value only, would not be worth the fees on eBay. And why would somebody go and ruin a perfectly good Russian designed box and put English on it.

Author:  Railsplitter [ Mon May 10, 2021 10:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

Thanks for all replies, I still have the collection, guess I'll give it to some wide-eyed kid when the time is right... I was only curious about the set dating back to when Russia was still the USSR. Cheers!

Author:  Barbra Voltaire, FGG [ Mon May 10, 2021 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

I think it definitely falls into the "collectible curiosity" arena, as you suggest.
How about donating them to a nearby Gem & Mineral Club?

Author:  Railsplitter [ Mon May 10, 2021 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this small mineral collection worth anything?

There's an idea... maybe even donate it to our local museum, if they're interested in it. I'd keep it, but I may be downsizing homes here in a bit, and it'd be kind of cool if more folks could check out the dated USSR packaging, lol. I think my dear departed dad must have picked up this set during his travels, back when we lived overseas... he visited several of those "Iron Curtain" countries back in the day. We also may have picked it up in Scandinavia, it's hard to say... I remember visiting a big ol' iron ore mine (Kiruna, I think?), maybe they had a curiosity shop and we bought the set there. Can't recall, since that was many decades ago and too much has happened in between. But I'll see that the set finds a good home, aye? I also have a "politically incorrect" penguin carved from pure ivory, but that stays with me, lol. Cheers!!!

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