This scientific mineral specimen auction represents multiple significant collections, including specimens from Paul Seel, former president of the Leidy Microscopical Society and curator of the F.J. Keely Micromount Collection, alongside pieces from George A. Butler Jr. and Harold A. Poole.

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The collection features over 200 lots of documented specimens, with significant quartz examples from Minas Gerais, Brazil, including crystalline formations up to 21 pounds. Notable specimens include smoky quartz, amethyst varieties, and double-terminated crystals.

Rare mineral specimens include Crocoite from Dundas, Tasmania, Benitoite from California, and Alexandrite variety Chrysoberyl from the Ural Mountains, Russia. The collection includes valuable native metals specimens, including silver from Cobalt, Ontario, and copper from Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.

Paleontological items feature seed fern fossils and marine specimens, including Megalodon fossils from Calvert Cliffs, Maryland. Complete trilobite specimens and Moroccan nautiloids add to the collection's scientific importance.

Gemological specimens include sapphires and rubies from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Montana, and Madagascar. Multiple tourmaline specimens from Brazil showcase rare color varieties like indicolite.

The collection maintains precise scientific documentation with weight measurements and locality data. Many specimens originate from now-closed mining operations, including examples from Tsumeb, Namibia, and Bisbee, Arizona.

Professional storage includes wooden specimen cases from the Gem & Mineral Display Company of Phoenix, Arizona. The collection features fluorescent minerals from Franklin, New Jersey, including Willemite and Franklinite specimens known for their distinctive properties.

Microscopically prepared specimens reflect Paul Seel's expertise in micromounting, featuring rare minerals from international locations prepared for scientific study. The collection demonstrates rigorous documentation practices typical of serious mineralogical collections.

Read our blog to learn about The Paul Seel Legacy: A Masterpiece Within the George Butler Jr. Collection

Buyer’s Premium: 23%

Preview:
In-Person Preview by appointment only:
Wednesday, November 27th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Monday, December 2nd from 9:00 – 3:00 PM

Schedule a Preview via preview@alderferauction.com or call 215-393-3000.

Condition Report Requests | alderferauction.com/condition-report
 

Read Before Bidding | Live Online Auctions
Auction is open for pre-bidding until Tuesday, December 3rd at 10:00 AM, at which time pre-bidding will cease and the auction will go live at the auction center (no live audience, just our auctioneer and auction staff). When the auction goes live, lots will be sold one at a time, in numerical order, by a live auctioneer who will be taking bids from multiple online bidding platforms, absentee and phone bids. During pre-bidding you are able to submit a max (maximum) bid. The bidding platform or our auction staff will bid on your behalf up to the maximum bid that you have entered. Once the auction goes live if you wish to increase your bid you will have to wait until that lot opens for bidding and enter any additional bids manually.

Pick-Up:

Successful Bidders will be notified to schedule a pick-up following the auction.

Pick-Up Location:

Alderfer Auction

501 Fairgrounds Road

Hatfield, PA 19440

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