I had read about the Heritage Auctions recent Hoppel Collection auction in the Mineralogical Record and in Rocks and Minerals Magazine. It implied that the quality of the auctioned minerals was incredible, and there was a healthy amount of bidders with mineral specimens fetching very high prices.
I then saw an ad for Heritage Auction to sign up for a free catalog for the next auction: The Hoppel Collection Auction 3, taking place from Wednesday April 30 - Saturday, May 3. I went online and signed up, and subsequently received a large catalog in the mail filled with beautiful pictures of high-quality minerals, with a description on each mineral being auctioned.
Even though most of the minerals here are well-beyond my budget, the catalog (more like a book) was very enjoyable looking through. I highly recommend signing up to get the Heritage catalogs on minerals, and being in the loop with their auctions. While their book is aimed at high-end collectors with large budgets, anybody can enjoy looking through it even if they cannot afford to bid.
I found their estimated price range to be highly inflated. (You could take off the last zero for a more accurate estimate). Nevertheless, these are top-notch specimens and they should fetch a healthy winning price. In addition to the final auction of Hoppel Collection of Fine Minerals and Gems, the auction features the collection of Texas Congressman John Culberson and gemstones from the Fallbrook (California) Gem & Mineral Society's gem collection.
Read more at www.ha.com/5168
