MINERALS AND METEORITES 



Bailey 



Collection, 



$4,000. 



J. Pierpont 



Morgan 



Collections. 



Bement 



Collection, 



$100,000. 



THE mineral collections began with the purchase of the Bailey 

 Collection, the acquisition of which at once led to the estab- 

 lishment of a Department of Mineralogy. 



The Bailey Collection of Minerals contained 7,000 cabinet specimens 

 and was purchased in 1874 for $4,000. It was stored in the Arsenal 

 until transferred to the Geology Hall in 1882. 



The minerals exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition 

 by the Governments of Canada, Spain, Brazil, Tasmania, and New 

 Zealand, were given to the Museum in 1876. 



The development of the Department of Mineralogy since the 

 Bailey Collection was secured has been due largely to the generosity 

 of Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, to whom the Museum is indebted for its 

 gem collection and the Bement collection of minerals. The first part 

 of the Tiffany gem collection was presented in 1890, and consists of 

 the exhibits made by the Tiffany Company for display at the Paris 

 Exposition of 1889. Especially noteworthy are the series of sapphires, 

 topazes, beryls, garnets, and tourmalines. The gem collection was 

 more than doubled in 1900 by the acquisition of the Tiffany Exhibit 

 at the Paris Exposition of 1900, comprising 1,453 entries, which was 

 purchased by Mr. Morgan (estimated value $100,000) and presented 

 to the Museum. The Tiffany gem collection has been continuously 

 increased by gifts from its founder, until to-day it ranks first in size, 

 value and importance in the country. 



The Bement collection of minerals was presented to the Museum 

 in 1900 by J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq. (estimated value $100,000). 

 This collection was brought together by Mr. Clarence S. Bement, and 

 had long had the reputation of being the finest private collection of 

 exhibition specimens in the world. It contained 12,000 specimens, 

 including many rare species. 



[48] 



