The National Gem Collection (Paperback)

~ Smithsonian Institution (Author), Jeffrey E. Post (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This beautifully illustrated work commemorates the reconstruction of the gem and mineral hall at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Curator Post has compiled an informative work that highlights one of the world's most famous and visited gem collections. Following an introductory chapter focusing on gem basics (cutting, measurement, color) and a brief history of the collection, the five remaining chapters describe historical jewels in the collection, diamonds, corundum (rubies and sapphires) and beryl (emeralds), other important gems, gems with special optical properties (opals), and ornamental stones. Among the famous jewels profiled are the Hope Diamond, the Napoleon Diamond Necklace, the Marie-Antoinette Earrings, and the Hooker Emerald. This volume makes an excellent companion to Gems and Crystals from the American Museum of Natural History (LJ 1/1/91). Recommended for most libraries. [Natural Science Book Club alternate selection.]?Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson Cit.
-?Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History holds the world's greatest collection of gems. In this beautiful book, now available in paperback, Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the National Gem and Mineral Collection, discusses everything from diamonds, rubies, and emeralds to jade and lapis lazuli, as well as the Hope Diamond and other world-famous stones in the museum's collection. More than 100 stunning photographs capture the colors and brilliance of these wonders of the mineral kingdom.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."; First Edition. first paper edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810927586
• ISBN-13: 978-0810927582
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,979 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very nice to peruse, June 25, 2001

By	Ray Barnes (Surrey, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: National Gem Collection (Hardcover)

This book is more suited to enjoying the pictures than the text, but both are fine in every way. Almost all the stones in the book have exceptional color - or colors as the case may be. The front cover, going roughly from top to bottom counter clockwise, features a 99.82 carat fluorite, sitting on top of the 858 carat uncut Gachala Emerald (and the original cover looks way better), the lower left features a 34.07 carat red spinel from Mogok, next is a 52.26 carat calcite, and to the right a 17.85 carat diamond crystal from Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The back cover has a spectacular 181.9 carat Cooper Pedy white opal, that I initially mistook for a black opal. This book is published by Harry N Abrams, Inc. of New York, and is well up to this company's superior standards - and that also helps to explain the rather high price. The book is divided into six sections: an introduction, some gems of signficant historical interest, a chapter on diamond, corundum and beryl, a chapter on other important stones, one devoted to stones with special properties (eg opals, cat's eyes and star sapphires) and finally ornamental gems. The appendix is also very useful and informative.

It is very helpful to use this as a reference for benchmark color. There is little or no commentary on evaluation, appraisal or strategic purchasing.

This book is expensive but there are few others like it. Recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee-table book (large format, awesome pictures)., October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: National Gem Collection (Hardcover)

This book lightly covers sources and history of jewelry pieces and gemstones in the museum. It has incredibly well-done color photographs and a great many of them. It is a large-format, coffee-table style book. I'm quite pleased to have it in my library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning photography; an amazing collection, May 4, 2004

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: National Gem Collection (Hardcover)

"The National Gem Collection," by Jeffrey E. Post, features photographs by Chip Clark. The book is a beautiful celebration of the title collection, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The informative text discusses the history of the collection, facts about types of different gemstones, and specific pieces in the collection.

The full-color photography is really stunning, and brings a rich assortment of gems to glorious life. Some of the historic pieces pictured are the blue Hope Diamond, the diamond Napoleon Necklace, the Hooker Emerald, and more. Also shown are a colorful collection of "fancy" diamonds, a rare red diamond, the 858-carat uncut Gachala Emerald, the delightful "pink tutu" (a band of dainty rose quartz crystals on a large smoky quartz crystal), a dazzling group of fire opals, a lapis lazuli carving from Afghanistan, and more.

I appreciate how the book celebrates gemstones at various stages: uncut, cut, and set in artfully crafted pieces of jewelry. Many different types of gemstones--aquamarine, garnet, spinel, chrysoberyl, turquoise, etc.--are covered. Features such as a scanning electron microscope photo of the inner structure of an opal give the reader a deeper understanding of the science behind gems. From start to finish, this book is a marvelous feast for both the eyes and the brain.