This is the only show we do on the East Coast and it has always been a fun and relaxing one – the only questionable aspect is the weather. Some years we swelter with high temperatures and humidity; other years we have thunderstorms; some years we get lucky. This year the weather was quite nice for the first few days but on opening day torrential rains came our way.
One upside: it brings in people looking for someplace to spend the day and it is a TAX FREE!!!!! weekend. Wish California would have a tax free weekend!
The layout of the show has remained the same since the move over to the Eastern States Exposition grounds – easy to manoeuver with straight aisles. Something few shows have anymore is a large wholesale section – there are 60 dealers in this section – it is always busy and there are around 140 retail dealers. Parking is plentiful and suprisingly, for those of us who are used to convention center offerings, the food service is actually quite good. Now…if only they would add my favorite lobster rolls…..
Do you think we need a bigger storage area in Springfield????Story of our life: load, unload, load, unload…..The center is quite large and it would take you a full day to see it all – nice that we can drive the trucks and cars into our booth area to unload!!
Last year we took over the large booth space that Chris Wright occupied for years and we love the location. The layout we did this year is totally different from the last one and I expect we will come up with yet another layout for 2014.
The booth coming together.
The finished cases!
Our books section
Over the next days we will be out and about the show and I’ll post photos of some of the good, the bad and ugly (and that includes both specimens and people!)
The main attraction this year is the collection of Carolyn Manchester and it is exquisite. Carolyn has been prominent on the mineral scene for many, many years. In years past many, many excellent displays have been presented but I must say that Carolyn has done a superior job – the display techniques, the labeling, the minerals – all top notch.
The area of the special display.
Here are some of the highlights of this special exhibit:
A superb selection of Beryls from various locations.Aquamarine crystal cluster with pink Fluorite on a bed of Muscovite crystals from Pakistan.Who doesn’t love Rhodochrosite? An array of different habits.A close up of the eyecatching centrepiece – globules of Rhodochrosite from Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil.A fine display cabinet of TourmalinesA delicate cluster of terminated Tourmalines from Minas Gerais, Brazil.Tourmaline crystal group with Lepidolite and Cleavelandite, from Pederneira Mine, Brazil.“Rubellite” Tourmaline from Minas Gerais, BrazilThinly cut and polished Malachite slices from the Congo.Another Malachite from the Congo, displaying classic stalactitic formCuprian Smithsonite from Tsumeb Mine, Namibia.A selection of Benitoites and Neptunites from San Benito Co., California, USAA display of some Twinned crystal groups.A common mineral in a plethora of forms – Pyrite also known as “Fools Gold”Another fairly common mineral in a variety of forms – Apatite, from locations around the WorldA colourful array of specimens from Mexican localitiesA display of Native Elements in their natural crystallised formA close up of that amazing centre specimen – Native Silver from Kongsberg, NorwayA spectacular group of Spessartine encrusted Smoky Quartz crystals forms the centrepiece in this display of Garnets from around the World. It is from the well known Tongbei deposits in China.Quartz in various shapes and sizes
A couple of classic Rose Quartz specimens:
A “shawl” of tiny Rose coloured Quartz crystals wrapped around a single colourless/white terminated Quartz crystal – stunning!More Rose Quartz specimens, some in association with Eosphorite
The rest of the photos are of the display and some of my favorite pieces:
What a Tsumeb Azurite miniature!
One of the best ‘bird’s nest’ specimens I’ve seen from Bisbee. It is a Calcite cave formation.“Mickey”….. where are you?
This one had California collectors in awe.I always like ‘revisiting’ with golds that passed through our hands at one time.Dona and Larry Conklin renewing their friendship of over 40 years.Wayne checking Larry’s mineral cabinets for a ‘sleeper’Richard and Safaa Jackson just celebrating their first wedding anniversary! Is that James Zigras I see behind them?Herb and Moni Obodda chatting with Dr. Raquel Alonso-Perez of Harvard Mineral Museum.Terry Huizing manning the booth for Rocks and Minerals – sweet guy we have known for about 35 years.
A fantastic show with fantastic displays – we really enjoyed this year’s East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show – the Springfield Show! and we urge anyone living on the East Coast to visit it. See you next year!
Minerals and their Localities
$150.00
Harry Winston: The Ultimate Jeweler (1st Edition)
$95.00
Gzhel Porcelain
$40.00
Easy Street
$180.00
Exploring Minerals & Crystals
$15.00