Portion of fresh-water clam shell holding a cluster of pearls. Pearls of the greatest 

 value are satiny in surface, pearly white in color, and almost ideally perfect in symmetry. 

 Such pearls command the highest value. The pearls in the Morgan collection number 2442. 

 The series includes a large number collected in different parts of the United States to illustrate 

 varying forms and colors 



important, embracing magnificent blue gems, one weighing 308 \ carats from Ceylon; 

 another of 98|i carats from Alabaschka; a round blue stone of 120 carats from Ceylon; 

 another great topaz of 600 carats, faultlessly cut, comes also from Ceylon. It is 

 the masterpiece of cutting of one of the greatest lapidaries who has ever lived in 

 India, as is also the biue Ceylon stone of 308 £ carats. The yellow and pink topazes 

 from Minas Geraes are superb; one of a deep yellow weighing 61 carats, and a 

 darker one, more brownish yellow, 46| carats. Then there is a splendid triangular, 

 sherry-colored stone, weighing 16§f carats from Ceylon; a beautiful pink specimen 

 of M^ carats and another of 49/^ carats from Ouro Preto, Minas Geraes, Brazil. 

 A great pale amber-colored stone of 193| carats is from Cheyenne Mountain, 

 El Paso, Colorado; there are also specimens from Australia and other localities. 



In the quartz series among the rock crystals, Spanish topaz, and rose quartz, 

 there are many fine specimens — notably the two crystal balls from Mokelumne Hill, 

 Calaveras Co., California. The one of 5| inches diameter weighing 6.3 pounds is 

 flawless; the other of 7| inches diameter with a weight of 8.17 pounds, is a large 

 piece of crystal containing numerous natural markings. There are wonderful ex- 

 amples of seals and other ornaments cut by the famous lapidaries of the Ural Moun- 

 tains and by Chinese lapidaries of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as well 

 as vases and snuffboxes by the expert lapidaries of the Nahe Valley in Germany. 



The amethyst series is fully as complete and contains many unique gems, such 

 as a great group of crystals from Upper Providence, Pennsylvania, and a carved 

 hand of Buddha from Japan. There may also be seen a large hexagonal gem, three 

 sectors white and three sectors purple, and a magnificent royal purple gem of 142-^'V 

 carats from the Ural Mountains. Some large and superb gems come from North 

 Carolina; Deerhill, Maine, and other localities. 



The garnets are represented in their full range of color — red, purple, honey-color, 

 brown, green and black. A remarkable series of spessartite comes from Amelia 

 Court House, Virginia, several dozen gems weighing from one carat to the great gem 

 of 96 T V carats. The two finest found in this locality weigh respectively 33 T 5 ff and 36|| 

 carats and are unique in size, perfection and color. 



We have already noted the hyacinth cameo, engraved with a bust of Christ in 

 profile, said to have been in the Vatican collection. A garnet bowl engraved with 

 Indian designs weighs several ounces, and a small dish, cut from garnet found at 



165 



