Shellfish, Crustaceans & Mollusks On Stamps

Rest of the Romanian set




(of course available for trade for any other stamp, like any Romanian 1960-1985 stamp I post, posted)

Shellfish Homework Quiz:

10 seconds of fame to the person who identifies,
and posts an image of the shell that produced the
famous and fabulously expensive "royal purple" of ancient Rome.

Well, that`s it. I have to offer this opportunity to a more serious collector. Cyprus issued in 1986 a set (Michel nr. 657-660)- the 18 c value shows a ,Murex brandaris`- unfortunately don`t have it.
here`s instead some stamp from Kenya.

I think we can forgive you, Daniel :)
Your 10 seconds of fame starts now....... :)

Well done, actually, I had it wrong
and thought it was other than the brandaris.
So I learn't something as well :)

I had it under "Murex Triremus"
which may be a common given name due to the shell's shape

I found the reference I was after re the purple dye
of the robes of Roman Senators and Emperors,
shown on Mette's example of St Zeno.

The delicate gastropod, the aptly named "Murex Triremus"
(compare the shell with the ship/galley to appreciate the marvellous connection)
as shown on the 2L value of the Maldives, (which I don't have)
is the snail, that secretes a yellowish fluid, when boiled
and treated, makes a permanent purple dye.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the dye was used in the
Christian Church, and gave rise to the official colours of Cardinals.

Mauritius (I removed 4 fishes, probably belongig to the same set)

I saw on TV once how shellfish were used to make dye. It was a stinky job...

I am not 100% sure if this stamp is correct for this topic:

OK, I finally have the Angola shell series..

Sweden's "Fossils" stamps:

How about a giant lobster on a roof?