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RARE CHOICE GRADE GYRODUS HEXAGONUS MOON FISH FOSSIL ON LARGE LIMESTONE SLAB FROM SOLNHOFEN Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Eichstatt, Germany JURASSIC PERIOD: 160 million years ago Famous for producing an astonishing diversity of rare and most intricately preserved fossils found anywhere in the world, the Jurassic lithographic limestone deposits of southern Germany are legendary. Quarries in the region are privately held and mostly worked by hand on a small scale. The finest grade fossils are few and far between and much rock must be split to locate them. The best fossils are most often kept by the quarry owners who themselves, are often collectors. Some quarries are operated on a large scale but these are now dug with machinery instead of manual labor. Because of this the rock is damaged and along with it, the rare fossils. What all this means today is that even fewer fine grade Solnhofen fossils are found and when they are, rarely do the best pieces make it to market. Occasionally, an old private collection surfaces and specimens are sold or traded. This is where the rare opportunity comes along to acquire a specimen on a level that truly is a prize find. Typically, the older material is often the best as it was collected when the deposits were first being worked and quality was in greater abundance. In light of all this, we are most pleased to be able to offer an investment level specimen that will surely appreciate over time. But, unlike most investments, this amazing fish fossil can be enjoyed and treasured in a most visually astounding presentation. This is a fossil of the Jurassic MOON FISH Gyrodus hexagonus. Specimens like this are very scarce in today's market and most often, when one becomes available, it is from an old collection. Unlike many Solnhofen fossils that are substantially less expensive painted NEGATIVE impression plates from a split fossil, this is the actual POSITIVE SIDE which is the fossil itself, on the rock. This rare fish fossil possesses full fin detail and a complete and well-preserved body including very rare intact skeletal detail. When excavated, this slab sustained damage so it is repaired which is normal. There are a few fractures that run through the moon fish fossil that have been repaired and the part of the fish restored. This restoration to less than 5% of the overall body. It is not done to recreate fossil regions that were missing but to conceal the repair. There is one of these repairs running across the back third of the tail and one running lengthwise to the mouth and head. The work was professionally performed and is not obviously detectible. The back of the slab has been reinforced with fiberglass for added protection. WARNING: Because this is a rare fish fossil, the chance for heavily restored and enhanced examples arise in the marketplace from fraudulent and mis-informed dealers. One such example of this type fish can be found by an online Google search for 'Gyrodus'. You can see in the online seller's own close-up images that most of the detail on the that "specimen" is artificially recreated in the stone with colored pencils and paint - far more than the deceptive text claims. His own close-up images don't lie, though. Pencil and paint replaces SUBSTANTIALLY much more of the fossil than is claimed evidenced by the images as crude as they are. Sure, the piece is substantially less in price but it would be more economical to buy a painting from an artist than to believe you are getting a fish fossil worth the several thousand dollar asking price from that seller! The detail you see in THIS fossil above is actual bone raised off the stone plate rather than painted lines on the stone and painted lines outlining the head, mouth, body and tail as seen in the other seller's example. There are numerous genuine teeth in the mouth of this example as seen above versus a total absence of any genuine mouth or head parts as seen on the lesser priced version! You can argue what is a fair price for a genuine rare fossil but when a dealer claims they have an "identical" fossil for a much better price, look for a relevant comparison. In many cases, their material is substantially lesser in quality and fraudulently misrepresented as being perfectly preserved when it is nothing more than an over-restored creation of a skillful craftsman. Which deserves the following fair warning to the naive collector. We have noticed an increasing occurrence of undisclosed work in heavily restored and modified examples in the marketplace and auctions of many Solnhofen fossils. It is becoming commonplace to take a smooth slab of Solnhofen quarry limestone and assemble, carve and/or paint parts or entire creatures where no fossil existed. Restoration is OK if it is disclosed but much of this work is not disclosed, either out of deception or ignorance of the dealer. When purchasing fossils, it is important to only deal with extremely knowledgeable sellers who have experience in fossil preparation as well as restoration and repair so they are capable of identifying what work has been performed to the fossils they offer and disclose this work to their customers. Sadly, a great deal of bad material is being sold as good to unsuspecting buyers. The staff at Paleo Direct operates two large preparation labs and is experienced in the full realm of fossil preparation, repair and restoration. The highest grade GENUINE fossils are rare and have high worldwide intrinsic value. There are no 'bargains' other than paying for the quality you wish to possess. While fossils from this region can exhibit the finest possible preservation of any site in the world, they are extremely rare and occur with less frequency compared to most other fossil-bearing formations. This is one of the most visually attractive Solnhofen Moon Fish fossils we have seen. The fish is beautifully colored and highlighted by the presence of tiny dendrites and natural pigmentation in most areas. The bones are what are really impressive and they rise off the surface of the slab as do the fins and bones in the head. Even the tiny round shell-crushing teeth can be seen in the rock on the upper jaw towards the back. The limestone slab is about 1" thick and is unusually large with the fish centered on the plate. Overall, the preservation and detail on this specimen are TOPS and finding a better specimen could take a lifetime, especially today where most quarrying operations are finished and no longer using manual labor, instead, destroying many of the fossils with large equipment as the harvest the stone for flooring. This remarkable prehistoric fish fossil comes with our absolute highest recommendation and will surely prove to be a cornerstone specimen in any of the world's most impressive fossil displays, either public or private. EXQUISITE SPECIMEN - COMPLETE WITH SPECTACULAR INTERNAL SKELETAL DETAIL - A RARE INVESTMENT IN THIS QUALITY! A MEMORABLE CENTERPIECE FOR THE MOST DISTINGUISHED INTERIORS, CORPORATE SETTINGS OR MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS 29" x 25" high overall with fish 6.85" long SOLD F017 Actual Item - One Only |
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