The Arizona sentinel., 1886-07-10
FAMOUS JEWELS.
The Wonderful Hope Collection of Dia
 monds, Sapphires, Opals and Pearls.

The sWOnderful nope COuectiOn Of DfR.
 monds, sapphires, opals and Pearls.
 The collection of jewels and precious stones formed by the late MT. Henry Phillip Hope, the greater portion of which is to be sold, was one of very re- markable interest, chiefly on account of the famous blue diamond which more than half a century back was kncwn as the Hope diamond, having come into the possession of MT. Henry Thomas Hope of Amsterdam, in London. This extremely rare gem, however, which was the rival of the Koh-i-noor in the great exhibition of 1851, and which is the chief of about five of the only blue diamonds known, is not included in the present sale.
 A splendid star of azure fire shines out in the lovely sapphire known histor- ioally as 'Le Sapphire Merveilleux. " upon which Mime. de Genlis founded a charming story when it belonged to Philippe Egalite, Due d'Orleans. In color this beautiful stone, which is i've eighths of an inch octagon set round with small brilliants as ring, is even richer and softer in its tone than the blue diamond, but less fierce in its lus- ter. slts weight is "A grains not large, therefore, since there is one at Ava of 951 carats, and the one in the collection of the Jardin des Plantes weighs 132 1-16 carats, without a flaw, which was found by poor Bengalee, afterward pur- oboeod Inv ono Mr. pucpo1i of p o,,,c and eventually came to a: Paris jewel merchant for 70,O0O francs.
 Another interesting jewel is the King of Candy's cat's-eye, the largest known, being an inch and half in d ameter and hemispherical, mounted in the original Oriental setting of gold studded with rubies cut CD Ca6Ochon. Its color cannot be better described than by it's resemblance to the glistening green and tawny yellow of the cruel eye of cats and tigers. The charm of the at's-eye is in the changing streak or ray of sil- very light, and this It is that led the Cingalese to fancy that it held genie who could protect against witchcraft, so that they prize with superstitious veneration these strange stones. There are several other specimens in the col lection, and one of the gold cat's-eyes known to mineralogists as crocidolite.
 Of the opals there {, are some fine specme both of the Hungarian, which are the best. and of the Mexi- can, which are softer and more porous. A beautiful ornament made of these gems is most appropriately formed like -ol,n ha ic hon studded all over with opals of changing irridescence. This is an exceedingly fine example of the art of the .1Oa'ttier of the seventeenth century, m gold and enamel work. ri-
 Another very interesting opal is the Mexican sun opal, ," so called from having the head of the sun god carved upon it. This is an inch long and near ly the same in width, and the carving seems to be barbaric and not antique Roman, or we might fancy it was the opal of historic celebrity which was cov- eted by Marc Antony, and led him to banish Nonius, the possessor of it, who, however, escaped with his opal. This curious Mexican opal has its traditions as being historically known since the century. *~-------
 The largest pearl known is another of the rarities of the collection, two inches 1ong,. pear=shaped, of an opaline tint, 'mounteds sssa pensant to an arched Tarown of enamel. rubies, emeralds, and hrilliants. Interesting as "a specimen 6f1glyp ptioswpfk1s diamond scutinstRs form of crosS which is said sto iBeS suniqfes eTherekis also cross 1formeti of of Six .rafe hrilHant green dia- 'monds; ;sarm another -andHaly of the kind is a white ruby. The sword hilt of King Mdrat, made of, a. large saluamarine cut in facetss with, various jewels studded ,abontsthe gold cross piece. is another cuflositEih this remarkable collection. .s- -17o7a50n EsqlseS% +
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