Antique Diamonds

The Sancy Blood Diamond: Power, Greed, and the Cursed History of One of the World's Most...

From Publishers Weekly
Back when pepper was the king of spices and monarchs governed Europe, jewels ruled. The more precious gems a king or queen had, the greater the chances of mounting an army to seize land, power—and more gems. Until it was cut in 1661, the 106-carat Sancy was "the largest white diamond in Christendom," a guarantee of wealth, though not of security. Ronald, a British historian, has gone on a treasure hunt to dig up every fact imaginable about the diamond's owners from the 14th century to the present—it's now in the Louvre, which purchased it from Lord Astor, who inherited it from his father. While she clearly illustrates the ill fortune that befell many who came into contact with the diamond, it's hard to buy her claim that "it helped change the course of European history," though those who bought, traded, stole or coveted the Sancy—among them Queen Elizabeth I, King Charles I and Louis XIV—were Europe's most powerful. As an introduction to mostly European history, this book is alternately enlightening and overwhelming. At times, the diamond gets lost in a snarl of names and facts, but those with some familiarity with and interest in European history may consider this a gem worth having in their library.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Its story is not as well known, certainly, as the Hope Diamond's, but that of the 55-carat Sancy, the largest white diamond in the world until 1661, is filled with intrigue, politics, wars, and death. Historian Ronald sorts through information and misinformation to track the passage of the gem, often sold to finance civil wars, from its place of origin (India) to ownership by many crowned heads of Europe. She also chronicles the misfortunes that have befallen its owners, including death, until the diamond assumed its final resting place in the Louvre. Although a masterly piece of detective work, Ronald's tale of the Sancy's "travels" gets somewhat bogged down in facts and dates. Still, she weaves a dramatic narrative out of the exploits of which it was the center. Much of it is the stories of Napoleon, say, or Henry IV of France, into which the diamond is sandwiched or mentioned. On the other hand, what would happen if this diamond and its story were to be entirely forgotten? Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The Secret Hangman

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. British author Lovesey deftly blends suspense and humor in his excellent ninth whodunit to feature Peter Diamond (after 2004's The House Sitter). Diamond, a detective superintendent in Bath, though still traumatized by the murder of his wife, finds himself the object of amorous attention from two women, one an admirer who sends him anonymous letters. The curmudgeonly but astute sleuth also finds himself again at odds with his superior, Assistant Chief Constable Georgina Dallymore, when his investigation into the separate hangings of a woman and her one-time partner suggests that both were murdered, contrary to the ACC's belief that they were victims of a murder-suicide. Fighting to devote precious time and resources to the inquiry, Diamond soon discovers evidence of a history of similar crimes and suspects the serial killer will strike again. While the solution isn't Lovesey's trickiest, its ingeniousness amply demonstrates that this classic series is still going strong. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
The latest entry in the Detective Inspector Peter Diamond series doesn't play fair with the reader since--spoiler alert--the resolution entirely depends on Diamond being pursued by a strange woman with whom he develops a romantic relationship. Lovesey has, in effect, "fixed up" Diamond, not only with the woman who stalks him successfully but with the solution to his case. Apart from this glaring defect, which may have readers steaming by the book's end, Lovesey turns in a perfectly acceptable entry in a long-running and popular British procedural series. Diamond, whose private life has become a "black hole" since the murder of his wife three years ago, attempts to focus on work as he investigates a series of murders in his home city of Bath. Diamond is a bit of a cipher (why do mystery writers persist in thinking depressives are interesting?), but the Bath setting always delivers, and the series of murders, involving the hanging of victims in very public places, is suitably jarring. A weak entry in a strong series. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The Story of Diamonds

From School Library Journal


Gr 5-8-Milne offers a utilitarian look at how the gems are formed in nature, mined, evaluated, cut, and polished; a history of their uses in adornment and industry; and superstitions about the tales of famous diamonds. Diagrams and a few dark, black-and-white photos are included. If you own Sara H. Chase's Diamonds (Watts, 1971; o.p.) or Victor Argenzio's somewhat newer Crystal Clear: The Story of Diamonds (McKay, 1977; o.p.), you still may want to consider this useful update, particularly for those science projects/reports on crystals.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Tiffany Diamonds

Product Description
Nothing sparkles quite like a diamond, and no diamond sparkles quite like one in a Tiffany setting. This lush volume celebrates the glittering world of Tiffany diamonds through its captivating history and sumptuous jewelry. John Loring recounts how Charles Lewis Tiffany was crowned the "king of diamonds" in 1848, how the firm purchased the French crown jewels in 1887, and how Tiffany introduced the engagement ring as we know it today. Intriguing and often mysterious tales of the world's famous diamonds-the Koh-i-noor, the Regent, the Sancy, and many more-embellish the text, and anecdotes about the illustrious owners of Tiffany diamonds provide a rare glimpse into the glamorous lifestyles of these privileged few. Handsomely produced with archival photographs, sketches, drawings, and new photography of antique and contemporary jewelry pieces, this exquisite volume is the ultimate read for anyone whose eye has ever been dazzled by a diamond.

About The Author
John Loring, design director of Tiffany & Co. since 1979, is the author of Abrams' Greetings from Andy: Christmas at Tiffany's, Tiffany Timepieces, Tiffany in Fashion, Tiffany Flora & Fauna, Louis Comfort Tiffany at Tiffany & Co., Tiffany Jewels, and numerous other books on Tiffany style and entertaining. Prior to joining Tiffany, Loring served as the New York bureau chief of Architectural Digest. He graduated from Yale University and has an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute. He lives in New York.

Toys A to Z : A Guide and Dictionary for Collectors, Antique Dealers and Enthusiasts

Book Description
How did Fisher-Price get its start? What company produced cast-iron toys in Freeport, Illinois? And who were Milton and Bradley, anyway? The answers to these and hundreds of other questions are found in Toys A to Z, a handy pocket reference by Mark Rich, author of 100 Greatest Baby Boomer Toys. This dictionary and guide lists and illustrates toys, games and dolls, including the most obscure and offbeat, plus the TV shows, movies and traditions that inspired them. This book is a reference that antique dealers and expert toy collectors and enthusiasts will turn to again and again.

- Entries both popular and obscurecovering toys, dolls, games and more
- The source for toy and antique dealers, collectors and pop-culture enthusiasts
- Over 200 b&w photos and illustrations
- An easy-to-thumb-through reference guide

Twentieth Century Antiques

Product Description
Buying 'antiques of the future' --collectables less than 100 years old-- is a growing trend. But how does one know what objects from today will have lasting value? Twentieth-Century Antiques, a complete guide to appreciating tomorrow's antiques today, includes some of the best examples in all fields, from furniture to photographs to games and dolls. Readers can enjoy this handy pocket-sized book as a catalogue of beautiful objects or use it as a reference for investment.

About The Author
Martin Miller has been involved in the antiques business since the 1970s, when he started the Lyle Gallery. His first book, The Lyle Official Antiques Review was an immediate hit. In 1979, the first edition of Miller's Antiques Price Guide was published and became the bible of both the antiques trade and the interested antiques hunter. In 1988, Miller's Collectables Price Guide was launched to similar acclaim and sales.

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