Illustrations
Reading edition
COLOR PLATES
PAGE
Phenomenal Gems (Gems Exhibiting Phenomena) Frontispiece.
Maharaja Runjit Singh, with Pearls and Gems 42
Cardinal Farley’s Ring,—Sapphire with Diamonds 104
Gems from the Morgan-Tiffany Collection 107
Self-prints of Diamonds, Showing Phosphorescence 170
Cross, Attached as Pendant to the Crown of the Gothic King Reccesvinthus (649-672 A.D.) 293
DOUBLETONES
Rock-crystal Amulet set in Silver 10
Rock-crystal Placque, Ancient Mexican 10
Necklaces from Egypt. First Century 20
Mosaics of Turquoise and Enamelled Carnelian Beads 26
Necklaces from Egypt 37
African Agate Charms 54
Amber Ornaments 58
Chalcedony Votive Charm from Mexico 65
Curious Altar of Powalawa Indians of Arizona 65
Kabyle Jewelry 68
Jasper Pendant 93
Piece of Natural Loadstone for Medicinal Purposes 93
Aragonite Pendant 93
Obsidian Mask, from the Fayoum, Egypt 99
Turquoise Necklace, Thibet 110
Phœnician Scarab, with Engraved Scorpion 123
Ancient Babylonian Cylinder Impression, Bearing Figures of the God Nebo and a Worshipper, and Symbols of Sun and Moon 123
A Small Jade Celt Engraved with Gnostic Inscriptions in the Fourth Century 123
Moss Agate Mocha Stones, Hindoostan 132
Agates Used as Votive Charms and Set in Rings 149
Rock-crystal Ball Penetrated by Crystals of Rutile 176
Glass Ball, Perforated and Mounted in Metal 183
Ball of Jet, Perforated and Mounted in Metal 183
Eye Agate, Showing a Number of Circular Markings 183
Dr. Dee’s Shew Stone 190
Obsidian Mirror, with Native Textile String 190
Rock-crystal Spheres and Natural Cross 196
Babylonian Cylinders and Persian Beads 204
Rock-crystal Spheres with Japanese Mountings 209
Crystal Ball, Supported by Bronze Dragon 217
Method of Grinding Crystal Balls and Other Hard Stone Objects in Germany and France 219
Japanese Method of Chipping, Grinding and Polishing Rock-crystal Balls 219
Rock-crystal Sphere with Three-figure Mounting 221
“Phantom Crystal” of Quartz (Rock-crystal) 224
Rock-crystal Balls 224
Amber Heart-shaped Amulet 228
An Inscribed Scarab of the Type known as a Heart-scarab 228
Babylonian Axe Head 233
Mani Málá, or Chain of Gems 242
Sculptured Jade Mountain Weighing 640 lbs 245
Votive Adze of Jadeite from Mexico 249
Statue of a Maori Warrior, by Sigurd Neandross 254
Jadeite Celts 264
Staurolite Crystals (Fairy Stones) 271
Frontispiece of the “Vestitus Sacerdotum Hebræorum,” of Johann Braun, Amsterdam, 1680 275
Silver Cross with Quartz Cat’s-eye 286
Specimens of Chiastolite (Lapis Crucifer) 286
Facsimile of the Betrothal Ring of the Virgin in the Cathedral of Perugia 317
Moss Agates 330
The Figures of the Planets with their Significant Stones 332
The Zodiacal Stones with their Signs 343
Necklaces (First Century, A.D., and Ancient Persian) 346
Statuette Known as that of Sainte Foy, in the Abbey-church at Conques, Dept. Aveyron, France 356
Inscription on a Small Piece of Limestone, in Cursive Egyptian Writing—an Ancient Prescription 368
Necklaces—(1) Carnelian Beads; (2) Onyx Beads 370
Facsimile Page of Italian Vellum Manuscript Treatise of the Virtues of Gems 374
Initials from the Lapidario De Alfonso X 377
LINE CUTS IN TEXT
Title Page of the First Edition of the Poetical Treatise on Precious Stones by Marbodus, Bishop of Rennes, Printed in Friburg, 1531 15
Title Page of the First Edition of the Greek Treatise by St. Epiphanius on the Gems of the Breastplate, with a Latin Version 16
Title Page of One of the Earliest Treatises on Precious Stones Published in England 17
Pearl Dealer 42
An Air-ship of 1709 53
The Tree that Exudes Amber 56
A Practical Test of the Virtues of the Bloodstone to Prevent Nose-bleed 60
Carnelian Seal, worn by Napoleon I, Napoleon III, and the Prince Imperial 64
Specimen Page of Italian Manuscript of Fourteenth Century 77
Obsidian Mirror, from Oaxaca, Mexico. Now in Trocadéro Museum, Paris 99
Rock-crystal Skull, Ancient Mexican 100
Engraved Heliotrope 124
Engraved Red Jasper 124
Gnostic Gems 127
Antique Jade Celt Converted into a Gnostic Talisman 129
Monogram of the Name of Christ Engraved on an Onyx Gem 136
Two Gold Rings Set with Engraved Onyx Gems 138
The “Orphanus Jewel” in the German Imperial Crown 147
Title Page of Robert Boyle’s Work on the Origin and Virtues of Gems 169
Title Page of a Group of Treatises by Various Authors, Collected and Edited by Conrad Gesner at Zürich in 1565 258
The Hebrew High-priest Attired with his Vestments 279
The Breastplate Unfolded, I, II; Ephod with Breastplate Folded and Attached, III 281
Title Page of the Edition of Marbodus on Precious Stones, Published in Cologne, 1539 290
Carnelian, Engraved with the Zodiacal Signs, Taurus, Leo and Capricorn; in the Centre a Six-rayed Star, the Form of one of these Rays Denoting a Comet 322
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones