Oceanic Wilderness by Roger Steene.
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DESCRIPTION: Hardcover with printed, photographic finish covers. Publisher: Firefly Books (2007). Pages: 340. Size: 12¾ x 11 x 1½ inches; 6¾ pounds. Summary: An astonishing voyage reveals remarkable new and unusual life forms. The breathtaking beauty of marine life is profusely illustrated in this outstanding book. Five years in the making, Oceanic Wilderness visits the Earth's limits to shed light on the ocean's deepest depths. From aerial views to cavernous reefs, and from mid-ocean to tropical lagoons, this book is a fascinating photographic journey to environments from around the globe, including the Caribbean, the Central, South and West Pacific, Japan, temperate and tropical Australia, Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Oceanic Wilderness explores the oceans' creatures and plants through the eyes of one of the world's most prominent undersea photographers. The photographs provide a vibrant feast of form, color and motion. Colors are almost outrageously stunning -- but accurate. Some of the subjects are as small as 2 mm and have been captured with a microscopic lens. Some images show day views and night views of the same place to reveal surprising, unseen secrets. A number of subjects were unknown to science before Roger Steene captured them on film.
With more than 600 vivid color photographs and accurate descriptive text, Oceanic Wilderness demystifies the planet's darkest frontier, revealing surprising secrets and exquisite beauty. This is an ideal book for naturalists, travelers and divers -- and anyone else with a passion for marine conservation and photography.
Highlights:
Features subjects never before photographed.
Explores the Caribbean Sea, the Central, South and West Pacific, Japan, temperate and tropical Australia, Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Captures the stunning beauty and colors of the deep reef.
Provides views of oceanic worlds from above.
Presents life in and around tropical islands and deep reefs.
Reveals marine life in lagoons and tide pools, and among kelp and coral.
Shows microscopic organisms inhabiting a drop of saltwater.
Includes photographs of the ocean during the day and through the night.
CONDITION: NEW. MASSIVE (nearly 7 pound) new hardcover w/dustjacket. Firefly Books (2007) 340 pages. Unblemished except for very mild shelfwear to dustjacket and covers (large, heavy books like this are awkward to handle and so tend to get dragged across and bumped into book shelves as they are shelved and re-shelved, so it is not uncommon to see accelerated edge and corner shelfwear to both the dustjacket and covers of such huge, heavy books). Pages are pristine; clean, crisp, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound, unambiguously unread. Condition is entirely consistent with new stock from a bookstore environment wherein new books might show minor signs of shelfwear, consequence of simply being shelved and re-shelved. Satisfaction unconditionally guaranteed. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING! Meticulous and accurate descriptions! Selling rare and out-of-print ancient history books on-line since 1997. We accept returns for any reason within 30 days! #8779b.
PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS AND IMAGES BELOW FOR DETAILED REVIEWS AND FOR PAGES OF PICTURES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK.
PLEASE SEE PUBLISHER, PROFESSIONAL, AND READER REVIEWS BELOW.
PUBLISHER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: Oceanic Wilderness is an exploration of the incredible delights to be found in the world's oceans. Visiting geographic extremities from the Caribbean to the East Pacific, Japan to the South and West Pacific, temperate and tropical Australia through to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, this book is a vibrantly illustrated feast of fish, coral and the wealth of exotic animal and plant life to be found in the depths - some of it shown with the aid of a microscopic lens. The breathtaking beauty of form, colour and motion of marine life is profusely illustrated in this outstanding book of over 500 color images. From aerial views to the depths of huge reefs; from mid-ocean drifting to tropical lagoons; Oceanic Wilderness is a fascinating photographic journey and includes examples taken during the day and the night. This book breaks new ground, as a number of subjects that have never been recorded before are featured here for the first time.
REVIEW: An astonishing journey through Earth's last paradise. For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the mysteries of the oceans. While early exploration was fraught with danger and superstition, current technology allows us to see what the oceans hide at their deepest depths. "Oceanic Wilderness" is an extraordinary illustrated voyage under the waves, revealing remarkable new and unusual life forms. Exploring destinations of the Caribbean, Japan, Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific and Indian Oceans, this large-format book reveals:
The stunning beauty and color of the deep reef Tropical islands and lagoons.
Microscopic organisms inhabiting a drop of saltwater Marine life in the tide pool.
Spectacular environments in cold water and warm.
The ocean during the day and through the night.
With more than 500 vivid color photographs and accurate descriptive text, Oceanic Wilderness demystifies Earth's darkest frontier, showing us its surprising secrets and exquisite beauty. This is an ideal book for naturalists, travelers, divers -- and anyone else with a passion for marine conservation and photography., An astonishing voyage reveals remarkable new and unusual life forms. The breathtaking beauty of marine life is profusely illustrated in this outstanding book. Five years in the making, Oceanic Wilderness visits the Earth's limits to shed light on the ocean's deepest depths.
From aerial views to cavernous reefs, and from mid-ocean to tropical lagoons, this book is a fascinating photographic journey to environments from around the globe, including the Caribbean, the Central, South and West Pacific, Japan, temperate and tropical Australia, Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Oceanic Wilderness explores the oceans' creatures and plants through the eyes of one of the world's most prominent undersea photographers. The photographs provide a vibrant feast of form, color and motion. Colors are almost outrageously stunning -- but accurate. Some of the subjects are as small as 2mm and have been captured with a microscopic lens. Some images show day views and night views of the same place to reveal surprising, unseen secrets. A number of subjects were unknown to science before Roger Steene captured them on film.
With more than 600 vivid color photographs and accurate descriptive text, Oceanic Wilderness demystifies the planet's darkest frontier, revealing surprising secrets and exquisite beauty. This is an ideal book for naturalists, travelers and divers -- and anyone else with a passion for marine conservation and photography. Highlights:
Features subjects never before photographed.
Explores the Caribbean Sea, the Central, South and West Pacific, Japan, temperate and tropical Australia, Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Captures the stunning beauty and colors of the deep reef.
Provides views of oceanic worlds from above.
Presents life in and around tropical islands and deep reefs.
Reveals marine life in lagoons and tide pools, and among kelp and coral.
Shows microscopic organisms inhabiting a drop of saltwater.
Includes photographs of the ocean during the day and through the night.
REVIEW: An epic journey of discovery. Since much of its life and ecology lies far beneath treacherous waters, the oceans have held enormous fascination and mystery for millennia. Exploration over the years has revealed much, but has also fueled more questions for scientists and explorers. Only in recent times have the means and methods advanced sufficiently to allow in-depth exploration of the ocean's hidden worlds.
"Oceanic Wilderness" is an illustrated journey that uses the latest technology to take readers under the waves to reveal astonishing and unusual life forms in a range of settings. Exploring the exotic geographic destinations of the Caribbean, Pacific Ocean, Japan, Australia, Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean, this book covers:
The beauty and color of the deep reef.
Tropical islands and lagoons.
Microscopic organisms in a drop of saltwater.
Marine life in the tide pool.
Stunning environments in cold water and warm.
The ocean during the day and through the night.
The exquisite beauty and variety of marine life, profusely illustrated in 600 vivid, color photographs, makes "Oceanic Wilderness" an extensive reference to the astonishing secrets and lifeforms of this last earthly frontier. It is an ideal book for naturalists, travelers and photography enthusiasts.
REVIEW: Reference of marine life found in the Caribbean, the Pacific Ocean, Japan, Australia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, featuring 500 color photographs.
REVIEW: Roger Steene is among the world's most prominent underwater photographers. He has always lived near Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and is closely affiliated with several maritime biology institutions around the world. He has more than a dozen books on marine life to his credit, including “Coral Seas”.
REVIEW: Roger Steene has explored coral reefs for over 40 years with expert marine scientists, contributed to a dozen field guide books (many in collaboration with Dr. Gerald Allen) and published highlights of his vast record of marine life in several large-format volumes including "Coral Reefs: Natures Richest Realm", "Oceanic Wilderness" and "Colors of the Reef". Like visions of another world, Roger’s photographs have magical qualities that delight anyone with an interest in animals, the sea or photography in general. His meticulous attention to detail conveys vivid impressions of marine life and extensive knowledge gained by determination, unbridled enthusiasm and countless dive hours spent on coral reefs around the globe.
Concentrating on close-up photography (including microscopic work), some of his subjects are creatures that have not yet been recorded or named by science. Affiliated as an Associate of the Australian Museum in Sydney and the Western Australian Museum in Perth, he has had several new species named after him, including a recently discovered Lionfish. Now a resident of Cairns in north-eastern Australia, Roger has always lived close to the Great Barrier Reef. He is a fun-loving, no-nonsense, down-to-earth Aussie who loves the oceans and its creatures, shuns publicity and always aims for perfection in his beautiful work. Roger’s vast library of photo stills constitutes a major resource component of Ocean Ark Alliance’s Global Educational Endowments, which is an extensive collection of media, educational resources and scientific data that Ocean Ark Alliance offers license-free to organizations and individuals involved in scientific research, marine education and conservation (for non-profit uses and applications).
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
REVIEW: This new book from Steene, a master of underwater photography, provides a detailed tour of the marine environments of the Caribbean, the Western Pacific and the Austral-Indonesian archipelago he's been exploring for 40 years with marine scientists like Gerald Allen (with whom Steene collaborated on several field guides). The colors of these underwater habitats alone are mind boggling; add an enormous cast of corals, sponges, anemones, fish and many other creatures—including some so newly discovered they haven't been named or described—and the material could become truly disorienting.
Fortunately, the brief introductory text provides specific insights into the habitats included, and photo captions indicate size, location and even lens and lighting info (though a glossary of terms would have been helpful). More than 300 pages of spectacular color photos, including a vast range of species and behaviors (like mating frogfish and cuttlefish), examples of camouflage and mimicry (like a Mimic Octopus impersonating 14 different sea species, from a sea snake to a jellyfish), and astonishing color variations (more than a dozen brightly patterned flatworms), make this book hard to put down. Like visions of another world, these photographs have a magical quality that should delight anyone with an interest in animals, the sea or photography in general. [Publisher's Weekly].
REVIEW: Roger Steene has done it again. This remarkable Australian photographer is well known for his images in many underwater pictorials including his "Nature's Richest Realm". "Oceanic Wildnerness" is a massive book, in physical size, and exceptional content. Weighing in at just over 3 kilos, and 280 x 325mm in size, it is a remarkable record of marine life taken with extraordinary skill and perception. The exquisite beauty of form, color, and motion of marine life is profusely illustrated in over 600 color photographs covering 312 pages.
Five years in preparation, Oceanic Wilderness visits geographic extremities from the Caribbean to the East Pacific, Japan to the South and West Pacific, temperate and tropical Australia to Southeast Asia, through the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and places in between. Take a fascinating journey from helicopter to deep reef, drifting in mid ocean to tropical island and lagoon; from microscope to tide pool, from kelp to coral, from cold water to warm, from day to night. A number of subjects are featured here for the first time and have never been recorded before.
The text has been co-authored with Dr Gerry Allan one of the world's leading reef fish biologists. What I particularly enjoyed about the book was the rather unique display of similar and same species - the preyed upon scorpion fishes for example, or the beautifully presented ‘panels' of invertebrate close-ups. The diversity of marine life and photography technique is exceptional. This is a must book for any library.
REVIEW: The oceans have held our fascination since man set foot on earth. Only in recent times have means and methods developed to allow us to explore this magical world. With every bit as much color, fascination and sensation as our land-locked environment, we have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge spawned from this extraordinary phenomenon. Take a fascinating journey along with the camera, from helicopter to deep reef, from rifting in mid ocean to tropical island and lagoon, from microscope to tide pool, from kelp to coral, from cold water to warm, from day to night, and witness the remarkable secrets and life forms of this last earthly frontier. Feel privileged, as a number of subjects are featured here for the first time and have never been recorded before.
The exquisite beauty of form, color, and motion of marine life is profusely illustrated in this outstanding book of over 500 color plates in 312 pages. Five years in preparation, Oceanic Wilderness visits geographic extremities from the Caribbean to the East Pacific, Japan to the South and West Pacific, temperate and tropical Australia to Southeast Asia, through the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and places in between. This is Rogers third book of this kind, the first sold over 300, 000 copies in six foreign language editions. The text has been co-authored with Dr. Gerry Allan one of the world’s leading reef fish biologists and describes the wonderful diversity of this little known undersea world. The images in this book cover numerous themes from color to habitat, through 604 photographs.
Roger Steene is an under water photographer with nearly 40 years experience. He has established an international reputation for the quality and diversity of his subject matter. Years of devotion to his craft of concentrating on close-up photography and his meticulous attention to detail conveys a unique impression of the undersea realm, covering every aspect of coral-reef life. He has a close relationship with the scientific community and is closely affiliated with several maritime biological institutions around the world.Roger is unique. He would be the world’s greatest underwater photographer specializing in close up photography of very small creatures. It is a wonder he can find these things let alone photograph them. If you browse through the plates you will see that many of his subjects are measured in millimeters. Like 4mm. One to look at is page 126, 2 cm, and page 96, 10mm. It is incredible photography, and it is like this through out the whole book.
REVIEW: This new book by Australian Roger Steene is among the best books of underwater photographs ever published. He has captured unique behaviors of unique creatures - - like a harlequin shrimp devouring a sea star - - with an unprecedented level of color and camouflage. Steene, considered one of the world’s best fish photographers, has a scientific eye that goes far beyond most professional photographers, which results in an endless array of surprising and stunning shots. More than 500 colorful images fill the 340 pages of this oversized coffee-table book. It’s a must for your library. 13 x 11 inches, hardcover.
REVIEW: A truly breathtaking collection of over 600 well-captioned photos...over 300 pages showcase spectacular images of the brilliant, intricate, amazing creatures...The incredible beauty and bizarreness represented in the photographs [make] this volume a priceless tool adding to our understanding of the marine environment and the importance of protecting its fascinating bio-diversity. This is a book to place near a comfortable chair to be explored and savored over time. [Wavelength].
REVIEW: This book could just as easily have been entitled "Pictures from Paradise"...From the warty frogfish to the Tiffany-glass fantasy of the male mantis shrimp, [the photos] are sometimes strange, often beautiful and always fascinating. [Laszlo Buhasz Globe and Mail].
REVIEW: This extra large format, 300+ page volume of more than 600 magnificent color photographs reveals the breathtaking beauty of life beneath the oceans. The photographs are amazing..."Oceanic Wilderness" will make an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys the sea. [Wildlife Activist].
REVIEW: Colors are almost outrageously stunning...demystifies the planet's darkest frontier, revealing exquisite beauty...The oceans are Earth's last frontier and this book makes pioneers of us all...an ideal book for naturalists, travelers and divers -- and anyone else with a passion for marine conservation and photography. [SirReadaLot.org].
REVIEW: The range of color, hue, and design of each creature and plant is unbelievable, and the aptitudes of some totally intriguing..."Oceanic Wilderness" will not disappoint you. [Canadian Camera.]
REVIEW: [Steene] records underwater scenes few of us have the resources, skill, or patience to behold, rendered with a startling sharpness and brilliance. [Natural History].
REVIEW: A volume that embraces the majestic and [the] minute in like measure. [The Post and Courier (Charleston SC)].
REVIEW: Perhaps one of the most remarkably beautiful books of the year. [Ottawa Citizen].
REVIEW: Talk about scary underwater creatures. [The Vancouver Province].
READER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: This is an outstanding collection of underwater images, mostly macro images from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The photographic quality of the images is excellent. It is a fascinating book. Many of the images record extremely rare animals and unusual events: all kinds of mating; anemones capturing and eating starfish; lionfish hunting in packs; fish with strange jaws gaping; nudibranchs hunting each other, etc.
One of the really nice features of this book is the way it lays out 12 or 24 different variants of a theme juxtaposed together on a page: 24 different color variations of the same nudibranch, or 12 variants of the beautiful patterns on the tails of mantis shrimp. These displays are beautiful and fascinating. This is a wonderful gift for a scuba diver or for anyone with an interest in the underwater world. The experience is a lot like chatting with an experienced marine biologist and photographer in the bar after a good day's diving. I've done almost a thousand dives, but while reading Steene's book I kept gasping "I didn't even know that fish did that!"
REVIEW: I wanted a set of images which would pair excellent color and pattern with unusual forms, and had assembled many National Geographic photos of sea creatures on my computer to use as inspiration for ceramics. I saw this book first hand and realized that it was so superior to all else I'd seen. It is similar to the Thomas Marent "Rainforest" book in the quality of the images and the small but pithy scientific text that accompanies it. It makes a wonderful resource for an artist in suggesting unusual color combinations, patterns and forms. Mr. Steene feels a real wonder about his subject and communicates that very effectively and with humility. There is also information accompanying most photos describing the species in each picture and where the photo was taken.
REVIEW: I ended up purchasing this book because my mother had borrowed it from the local library - both she and I decided we each had to have a copy because it was so fantastic. The book is a photographic collection of spectacular glimpses of ocean life that is a treat for the eyes. I could spend hours (and think I already have) gazing at these photos of strange and wondrous creatures. The book has minimal text, mostly limited to a caption of a sentence or two for each photo, so it is really about the pictures. And they are gorgeous.
Most pages are either single full-page photos or collages of pictures themed together. The color is just amazing. Contained within the pages are not just unusual fish, but dazzling shrimp, anemones, coral, nudebranches, pygmy seahorses and plenty of other colorful creatures. I love books like this and this one is one of the best I've seen. The book is large (and heavy!) with pages made from heavy stock paper, so it is of good quality. Definitely a candidate for the coffee table so that is within reach of guests who want to "ooh" and "ahh" over some spectacular photography. Oh, and the inside cover has a photo of coral and if you run your fingers over the page, you will feel the texture of it. Very well done book! Highly recommended!
REVIEW: Amazing Oceanic Wilderness! Roger Steene's "Oceanic Wilderness" is a fantastic book because the photos are of such high quality. There are amazing photos of many kinds of shrimps, crabs, worms and other invertebrates. I liked it because is was NOT full of endless photos taken while the diver was lying on the bottom looking up at the surface and the passing schools of fish. There are a limited number of such photos that one can look at without becoming bored. If you've never bought a coral reef book for your library, then you must buy this one - forget the rest this is the best!
REVIEW: This is a massive collection of simply superb underwater photography. It isn't about the creature's habits, the ecology of their homes, the history of diving or anything else. But if you want to see some mind boggling images of some weird and wonderful denizens of the sea this is the book for you. If you are a diver you will be awed by the quality of the photos and will appreciate even more what went into this volume. If even one of my photos approached this quality I would be ecstatic (they don't).
REVIEW: Breathtaking every time I read it! This book is unbelievably gorgeous and colorful. Mr. Steene discovered several new species during the course of his photography - amazing! The close-ups and actions shots are unbelievable. This book is such a delight - a treasure for scuba and fish lovers!
REVIEW: This book is simply breathtakingly gorgeous! Roger Steene is a top notch marine biologist and photographer, widely admired by the students of ocean life. This book is simply beautiful, all, and I mean all, the photos are stunning. It is a great addition to one's library and living room. Highly recommended.
REVIEW: This iconic book features so many incredibly weird and beautiful creatures from Indonesia. Roger's ability to show incredible detail using 35mm film is truly astounding. Most of the marine animals included in this book will soon only exist on paper, sadly. Get out there and buy one!
REVIEW: It was everything it was billed as and more. Photos are outstanding. Better than others of the same subject matter. Wealth of ideas that can be used for other projects. A lot of extremely detailed photos.
REVIEW: Most Amazing underwater photography EVER! You just have to see it to believe it. It is the most amazing underwater photography I have ever seen. Fantastic!!! It's the perfect coffee table book for ocean lovers.
REVIEW: I saw this beautiful book on the shelf at my favorite used book store and just had to have it. It's a large book at 11 by almost 13 inches so the pictures are big and colorful. This makes for a great coffee table book and I'm so glad I could add it to my collection.
REVIEW: Amazing content and amazing Photographs! This entire book is amazing! The content of this book is astounding...fascinating critters and how they adapt for survival. Beautiful photos! This is definitely a book you'll want to have in your collection!
REVIEW: This book has amazing color photographs of all the weird and wonderful, and more normal, life-forms to be found beneath the sea. Why go extra-terrestial for sci-fi when it's all there beneath the waves? For anyone interested in marine life, this is a must.
REVIEW: Great book, awesome pictures! My husband has a saltwater tank and loves fish. I got this book for him and he loves it. Has read it cover to cover. Great quality pictures and information.
REVIEW: Great book! As a scuba diver you see lots of different and strange fish and other creatures. You don’t even touch on what all this book shows. It is really interesting to know that you might see one of these if you know where to look. The book is put together well and the colors are great. Its a good conversation book. Great for the coffee table.
REVIEW: This is an exquisite book with many rare and remarkable photos of marine life all over the planet. Each page is breathtaking. Beware--this book will fuel an intense desire to dive in exotic locales.
REVIEW: This is a truly amazing book. It is a huge collection of superb photos of a diversity of ocean life. Anyone who is interested in oceans will love this book.
REVIEW: This book is filled with the most beautiful and amazing photos of our underwater world. If you love the sea, get this book.
REVIEW: Superb! Thanks a lot Mr. Steene. Your best book yet. I purchased "Coral Reefs" in 1995, 'Coral Seas' in 2006, and Oceanic wilderness in 2009.
REVIEW: A beautiful, giant, epic book full of close-up and far away photos and jam-packed with glorious and amazing creatures. There are lots of facts and even more eye candy.
REVIEW: Five stars! Glorious pictures.
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ABOUT US: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Europe and Central Asia several times a year. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as some other worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient jewelry and gemstones. Prior to our retirement we traveled to Russia every year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia. From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for.
My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.
Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $3 fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.
