Antique Diamonds

Explorations of the Highlands of the Brazil: With a Full Account of the Gold and Diamond...

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1869 edition by Tinsley Brothers, London.

Famous Diamonds

Product Description
In Famous Diamonds, Ian Balfour tells the fascinating stories of almost 80 of these remarkab le gems including the famous: Ko-i-Noor which is in the British Crown Jewels, etc.

Fashion Apparel, Accessories and Home Furnishings

Product Description

Appropriate for Product or Market Knowledge courses in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising programs. This text provides up-to-the-minute details to aide in the understanding of raw materials used in fashion product manufacturing, apparel classifications and their product lines, numerous different wearable accessories and enhancements and the host of home furnishings used for interior design.

Fishing Lure Collectibles, Vol. 1: An Identification and Value Guide to the Most...

Book Description
Progresing from simple implements of bone, stone, and wood to metals to the elaborately feathered flies of the Victorian era, antique fishing lures are now sought as highly prized collectibles. This edition has hundreds of new photographs and much new information not included in the first edition. Chapters include the 'big ten' companies, miscellaneous companies, metal lures, handmade lures, and finally the seldom seen experimental lures. Concerned primarily with the most colectible antique fishing lures made before 1940, this deluxe hardbound book contains well over 1,300 lures beautifully reproduced in full color. Research and identification will be simple yet effective with these descriptions, sizes, dates, 2001 values, and quck comparisons of similar features of lures AUTHORBIO: Dudley Murphy decided to become a lifelong collector of fishing lures at the age of 13, when his grandfather presented him with a gift of old Heddon, Jamison, and Clark lures. As one of the three founders of the National Fishing Lure Collector's Club, Dudley is an active collector with a variety of interest, including fishing. AUTHORBIO: Rick Edmisten was introduced to fishing at age 12 by his father, and by the time he was 18 had developed a keen interest in collecting old lures and tackle. He has hosted a successful fishing tackle collectible show from 1990 to the present, and is recognized as an authority on old tackle. He often appraises estates and collections. REVIEW: This book focuses on the "big ten" companies, metal lures, handmade lures, and the seldom seen experimental lures, and emphasizes antique lures made before 1940. Each section begins with a short introduction about the company, followed by vivid, representative color photographs that the company made. Each photo lists the name of the lure, number, date manufactured, length, collector value, and any important notes or details about the lure.

About The Author
Dudley Murphy decided to become a lifelong collector of fishing lures at the age of 13, when his grandfather presented him with a gift of old Heddon, Jamison, and Clark lures. As one of the three founders of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club, Dudley is an active collector with a variety of interest, including fishing. Rick Edmisten was introduced to fishing at age 12 by his father, and by the time he was 18 had developed a keen interest in collecting old lures and tackle. He has hosted a successful fishing tackle collectible show from 1990 to the present, and is recognized as an authority on old tackle. He often appraises estates and collections.

Forever Brilliant : The Aurora Collection of Colored Diamonds

Book Description
The catalogue of the Aurora Collection , the worlds most famous colored diamond collection that has been on display at The American Museum of Natural History in New York since 1989. 260 diamond photographs by Tino Hammid, with introductions from collector Alan Bronstein, author/gemologist Stephen C. Hofer, museum curator Dr. George E.Harlow, and author/historian Janet Zapata. Hundreds of historical quotes and color descriptions. The perfect guide to the world of natural colored diamonds.

Publisher Description
The catalogue of the Aurora Collection, the world's most famous colored diamond collection that has been on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York since 1989. 260 diamond photographs by Tino Hammid with introductions from collector Alan Bronstein, author/gemologist Stephen C. Hofer, museum curator Dr. George E. Harlow, and author/historian Janet Zapata. Hundreds of historical quotes and color descriptions. The perfect guide to the world of natural colored diamonds.

Gem and Jewelry Pocket Guide: A Traveler's Guide to Buying Diamonds, Colored Gems, Pearls,...

Book Description
"Newman's guides are the ones to take along when shopping." Library Journal

The perfect pocket-sized companion for those traveling and thinking about purchasing jewelry or stones. Renee Newman, author of the highly respected gem and jewelry guides including Diamond Ring Buying Guide and Gold & Platinum Jewelry Buying Guide, has written a concise buying guide covering gems, gold and platinum that's a perfect handy reference.

Here's important information on how to select jewelers and appraisers; a chapter on notable gem sources and which countries are noted for specific gems; information on coral, ivory and amber; precautions one must take when buying from an unfamiliar source; and customs regulations, duties and how to use lab reports.

Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide will become an indispensable resource that will be used time and time again.

Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals: The Mystery of the Carroll A. Deering

Product Review
In the misty dawn of January 31, 1921, a Coast Guardsman on watch at the Cape Hatteras Life-Saving Station sighted a mighty five-masted schooner, all sails set, wrecked on the treacherous Diamond Shoals. Rescuers rushed to the ship, but when they arrived they found the Carroll A. Deering deserted, with no trace of the captain, Willis B. Wormell, or the crew. When, several months later, a bottle was found on a nearby beach, purportedly containing a note from a crew member who ascribed the schooner's fate to its capture by pirates, a sensational panic in international shipping ensued. The captain's daughter successfully lobbied for a federal investigation, but months of inquiry failed to turn up either the missing crew or a reason for the ship's demise. To this day, the fate of the Deering has remained one of the greatest mysteries of maritime history.

Bland Simpson assembles the known facts into a compelling reconstruction of the Carol A. Deering's final voyage and its baffling aftermath. Using contemporary sources including newspapers, FBI reports, ship's logs, and personal and official correspondence, he weaves together historical narrative with the voices of key participants in the drama. Simpson's haunting chronicle keeps the story of the Deering alive, an apt memorial to the ghost ship and its lost crew.

"There have been differing reports on the mystery of the Carroll A. Deering. . . . Simpson has merged those accounts with additional in-depth research, to present in detail the fascinating story of the ghost ship of Diamond Shoals. (David Stick, author of Graveyard of the Atlantic: Shipwrecks of the North Carolina Coast)"

Product Description
Simpson assembles the facts of the unmanned shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina which to this day remains one of the greatest mysteries of maritime history. Using contemporary sources including newspapers, FBI reports, ship's logs, and personal and official correspondence, he weaves together historical narrative with the voices of key participants in the drama.

Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America's Furniture City (Shopping and Antiques)

Book Description
Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America's Furniture City is the first major history to be published about the place that once crowned itself "The Paris of Furniture Design." Over 200 photos illustrate the lively text by Christian G. Carron, curator of one of the nation's largest furniture collections. The story begins in the 1830's with the region's first cabinetmakers, and covers designs from Victorian and Modern through Reform and Revival to the high-tech office furniture of the late twentieth century.

Delving deeper than forms and ornamentation, this volume includes anecdotes and insights from four of the most knowledgeable experts on the Grand Rapids furniture industry.

The detailed manufactures directory lists more than 800 West Michigan furniture makers past and present, including company names, locations, designers, and product descriptions. Never-before-published hints for identifying Grand Rapids furniture complement more than 400 maker's marks and labels, to make this an important resource for every reference shelf.

About The Author
Christian G. Carron is head of the curatorial department of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids, and has cultivated the furniture collections there for over ten years. Each year he answers hundreds of requests from around the world for information on Grand Rapids furniture. After studying in the Historical Administration Program at Eastern Illinois University, Carron curated similar collections in Louisiana and Kentucky. An active lecturer and author, Carron conducted much of the research for this publication during the development of The Furniture City, a permanent exhibition that opened in 1994.

Great Ideas Teacher's manual: Listening and Speaking Activities for Students of American...

Product Description
Great Ideas is a unique collection of absorbing and enjoyable fluency practice activities designed to improve listening and speaking abilities. The Teacher's Manual contains detailed notes on the activities, as well as vocabulary suggestions, glossaries, answer keys (where appropriate), listening scripts, and suggestions for follow-up activities.

Book Description
Great Ideas is a unique collection of absorbing and enjoyable fluency practice activities designed to improve listening and speaking abilities.

Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem

From Publishers Weekly
In this authoritative history of the Hope Diamond (also known as the French Blue), Kurin describes how the 112–carat deep blue diamond came into the hands of Louis XIV through diamond trader Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who in turn had bought it from an Indian mine. (Although rumors persist that Tavernier took the gem from the eye of a Hindu idol, Kurin says there's no evidence to support this action—Tavernier was a respected dealer.) The diamond was recut (reducing its size by half) and kept by the French monarchy until it was stolen during the revolution. It resurfaced, unrecognizable after being cut again, in the possession of London merchant Daniel Eliason in 1812. Some years later, it came into the hands of Henry Phillip Hope, was inherited by his wife and sold to several other owners, before being donated in 1958 to the Smithsonian Institution. There its mystique is grounded by "scientific discourse" and study. During his chronicle, the author, director of the Smithsonian's national programs, describes the history of the diamond trade, how precious stones were classified, the long-circulating myth that a curse was attached to the Hope diamond and royal politics of the times, for a serious but fascinating look at cultural and gemological history. B&w photos. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
In sober contrast to Marian Fowler's archly written Hope (2002), Kurin's account of this celebrated gem measures its facts against the legends of its appeal. The provenance of the diamond that supposedly brings bad luck to its owner began with a French trader in India who sold it to Louis XIV. The chain of custody breaks, however, with the disappearance of the "French Blue" in the tumult of the French Revolution, a mystery Kurin carefully examines. Without endorsing the theory, Kurin surmises that the diamond was used to bribe the German general at 1792's Battle of Valmy. Two decades later, a blue diamond cut differently from the original (but proven to be such by recent tests) appeared in decorations worn by Britain's future George IV. Renamed for a purchaser, this Hope diamond has a solid chain of custody with ancillary fables of ill fate until it was finally bought by the Smithsonian Institution. Kurin's solid research is his strength in this account of the jewel's provenance and popular allure. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

How to Be a Jewelry Detective (Antiques Detectives How to Series)

Naine Antique Digest, December ,2000
This elementary handbook supplies the necessary knowledge and tools to uncover the mysteries of fine, costume, and Mexican jewelry.

"Old Stuff " Feb./March 2001
"---A most informative book giving the basics to help any colector or dealer---"

How To Buy A Diamond: Insider Secrets For Getting Your Money's Worth, 5th Edition

From Library Journal
Buying guides for gems and jewelry appear on the market with some regularity, and these two are similar in scope and content to their predecessors. Cuellar, founder and president of Diamond Cutters International, covers the standard topics of the four Cs (carat, clarity, color, cut), as well as the fifth C, cost. Various chapters focus on everything from ring settings to insurance, investment, and selling diamonds; other tidbits include carat size charts and even a list of 101 ways to be romantic. This serious yet lighthearted guide is geared to anyone looking for inside information on purchasing a diamond. Matlins's (Jewelry and Gems, LJ 5/1/94) work is equally informative yet more serious in nature. Each of the seven parts focuses on a variety of topics from the historical significance of pearls to pearl types and quality, from selection to caring for and wearing pearls. The two most important sections deal with insider tips and advice from the experts and what to ask when purchasing pearls. Other features include price guides, special charts, and a special color photograph section. Both of these books are suitable for public libraries.?Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

USA Today
"He's what people are talking about." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.