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The book of the pearl : its history, art, science, and industry / George Frederick Kunz and Charles Hugh Stevenson.
LIBRA NK7680 .K8 2001 copy 2
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LIBRA - Special NK7680 .K8 2001
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- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Kunz, George Frederick, 1856-1932.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Pearls.
- Penn Provenance:
- Gotham Book Mart (former owner) (Gotham Book Mart Collection copies 1 & 2)
- Physical Description:
- xix pages, 1 unnumbered page, 548 pages, 2 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Edition:
- Dover edition.
- Place of Publication:
- Mineola, New York : Dover Publications, Inc., [2001]
- Summary:
- A symbol of unblemished perfection since ancient times, the pearl was so greatly treasured in classical Rome, only persons of high rank were allowed to wear it. Today, it has earned its place among the most desirable of gems. This monumental, profusely illustrated volume by two noted authorities on the subject is probably the largest single collection of data on the subject. It presents an enormous amount of detailed information on pearls: their origin and history, structure, and form; the pearl fisheries of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas; fascinating facts and lore on pearl-culture and pearl-farming; the gem's mystical and medicinal properties; famous pearl collections around the world; and much more. Over 180 illustrations enhance a text sure to be of great interest to gemologists and any reader curious about the long and engrossing story of the "queen of gems."
- Contents:
- Chapter I Pearls among the Ancients 3
- Chapter II Medieval and Modern History 15
- Chapter III Origin of Pearls 35
- Chapter IV Structure and Forms of Pearls 51
- Chapter V Sources of Pearls 65
- Chapter VI Pearls from Asia
- The Persian Gulf 85
- Ceylon 99
- India 128
- The Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Etc. 139
- China, Japan, Siberia, Etc. 145
- Chapter VII East African Pearl Fisheries 153
- Chapter VIII European Pearl Fisheries
- The British Isles 159
- The Continent of Europe 168
- Chapter IX Islands of the Pacific
- The South Sea Islands 189
- Australia 199
- The Malay Archipelago 212
- Chapter X American Pearls
- Venezuela 225
- Panama 235
- Mexico 241
- American Fresh Waters 252
- Miscellaneous Pearl Fisheries of America 278
- Chapter XI Pearl-Culture and Pearl-Farming 285
- Chapter XII Mystical and Medicinal Properties of Pearls 301
- Chapter XIII Values and Commerce of Pearls 319
- Chapter XIV Treatment and Care of Pearls 375
- Chapter XV Pearls as Used in Ornaments and Decoration 403
- Chapter XVI Famous Pearls and Collections 449
- Chapter XVII The Aboriginal Use of Pearls, and Their Discovery in Mounds and Graves 485.
- Notes:
- "This Dover edition, first published in 2001, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published by The Century Co., New York, in 1908 and reprinted by Dover Publications, Inc., in 1993. The illustrations have been regrouped and these changes are reflected in the revised List of Illustrations and the Index. Those illustrations originally in color appear in black and white here. Biographical information about George Frederick Kunz has been added."
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 517-538) and index.
- ISBN:
- 0486422763
- 9780486422763
- OCLC:
- 47922865
- Online:
- Publisher description
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