About Us

My passion for seashells began at an early age. As a young boy, I practiced spearfishing, and during those adventures, I had the opportunity to find and collect remarkable shell specimens. I am originally from Recife, a city in northeastern Brazil, and I have always been fascinated by the unique seashells found along our coastline.

My first trip to Europe was in 1985. On that journey, I brought along a selection of Brazilian shells to exchange with Portuguese collectors I planned to meet. That experience introduced me to collectors such as Paulo Granja, Antonio Monteiro, Luiz Távora, and Gonçalo Rosa—friends who remain close to this day. During that same trip, I also met a shell dealer named Guilherme Soares. He showed great interest in Brazilian shells, and we exchanged specimens.

That visit to Portugal sparked my interest in the shell trade. Although Guilherme Soares had expressed a desire to buy shells from Brazil, I only officially entered the business in 1987. That year, I sent out a price list to a few dealers in the United States whose addresses I had found in COA Magazine. My very first customer was Mal de Mer Enterprises, and with that first order, Donax Seashells was born.

Today, our main focus remains Brazilian shells, but not just marine species—we also specialize in Brazilian land snails and freshwater species. Our catalog features extraordinary specimens, ranging from the northeastern coastline to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. In addition to Brazilian shells, we offer rare and high-quality specimens from all around the world. Over the years, we have visited more than 50 countries, allowing us to curate a vast and diverse selection of shells for collectors to enjoy.

Donax Seashells has become a well-recognized name in the market, known for the exceptional quality of our specimens and the reliability of our service. We strongly believe that long-term success is built on customer satisfaction. By maintaining high standards, we ensure mutually beneficial and sustainable business relationships for all involved.

We hope you enjoy browsing our collection.

Happy shelling!