New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-27

FINE COLLECTION OF GEMS,
DETAILS OF GIFT OF j. PIERPONT NOR
GAN TO PARIS MUSEUM-REPRE-
SENTS ALL AMERICA-GATH- =
Erred BY GEORGE f.
KUNZ 8
KUNZ.

KIM s-
5aso
Full particulars now at hand OF the exceeded
insly valuable Pan-American collection of gemss7
and precious stones presented recently by J. Pier-i
pOnt Morgan to the mineralogicaI department. OF
the Musee d'HstOre Naturelle in Paris known
more Familiarity as the Jardin des PIantes. The
commercial value OF the collection is represented
by five figures 81
The history of the collection is interesting. DR..
David I. Day. chief of the Department of Mines OF
the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition. invitedTc
George F. Kunz the gem expert of Tiffany & Co.'S
prepare a collection to I'LL a large octagouaI
space In the Palace of Mines. AS there were no $
funds for the purpose, Mr.. Kunz suggested 70
Tiffany & Co. to sustain such collection. which
they did, and there was gathered the best collection
that could be got together OF Pan-American gems
and precious stones. The catalogue contains more1
than four hundred numbers. but often a singie5
number means from one to dozen specimens. Az
great many unique and handsome, and wher-f
ever 1t was possible the best gems We're OBJ.
tanned to show the contrast between the rough and
the cut material In many instances where there
variety of color. every possible shade was
represented l7o-s
The mineraIogicaI department of the MusseGf
d'Hstoire Naturelle has been presided over In the
century by of the most eminent men in
France. One of the first directors Daubeton.
appointed by the original French Assembly before.
the First Empire. There is classic cOliec-
ton In Europe. 1t contains the collection OF
Able Hauy, the father of crystalography. The
department has been presided over DS Such men as
Daubree and Desloseaux and at present the di-.s
rectors chair is filled by Professor Alfred Lacrox.
studying volcanic action at Martinique for the
French Government.
d'Histoire Naturele." said Mr. Kunz yesterday in
a talk with a Tribune reporter. although so rich
In foreign minerals and gems. was nOticeably de-
acient in American gems when the Tiffany colIec-
tions OF precious stones were shown at the Paris
exuostions of 1889 and 1900, and which were bought
by j. Pierpont Morgan and given by him to the
American Museum of Natural History. This de-
hciency realized at the time. 1t was not to be
wondered at, however, American precious stones
have only been developed in the last twenty years
AT the last exposition the director of the de-
partment said that If any American saw fit to
present such things to a museum. there was no
foreign museum where they would be APP
preciated by greater numbers Of people
than at the Musee d'Hstoire Naturele. not except
ing the great British Museum. 1t was thought that
perhaps dozen or more gems might be presented
the institution. and you imagine the surprise
and delight with which such a magnificent cOllec-
ton as that purchased by Mr.. Morgan was re-
ceived The directors sent special letter OF
thanks Mr. Morgan for his generosity. Two ~
fine cases were ordered contain the collection
and TO be placed either side Of the main en-
trance. ~
This collection will be in admirable company
There is for instance. in the Musee dHistoire
Naturelle the famous sapphire. weighing hundreds
OF carats which some scientist into rhOmbo-rs
hebron of faultless color. in order carefully
cups OF rock crystal which date from the time Of
w t 4 eSTa Se aaS not TO
lection purchased by Mr.. Morgan may be mem
Greek Mont, jadeIte. Aztec: from the Valley Of
Mexico . ametnT psya Sont IrS afe Serpeat
with eleven a Ossds gE0% ceGl Mszf0
Fort Hills. Navajo Nation. New-Mexco; tourma-,
ho f m County. CoI: quartz nciosng toarmans
agate with two eyes T5OP UFgggay Smshy5
barite with gold. from Chilli; moss Opais from.
crystals fro aaa Little Fails Herkmer county 4
e 9S sS and % toSfs
from Mesa Grande. San Diego County Cal: pectO1
Vernon. n J.: geode agates containing water
from Uruguay: turquoises from Los Cerriles.
MssicO a%sthys IN agate pG oils a s0 g fFqM g
GoSTed 1 S fsGm RnG 5G I'M
Crabtree Mountain. Mitchell County. y. G; lapis
ornaments oman from santo Domingo, y, NJ. amethyst
from amherst County Va and Paterson; n u
cedony containing water. from Uruguay; sapphrine
from Douglas County, Wash; pink alabaster from
Menon Inn sIsnd 0bsdian lin ornaments from
the Valley Of Mexico Mexico; amethyst and smoky
from wskeed Que g0ldsR f 5sT f TG CS0
Ave Wine coIored topazes from Deseret Utah;a1(
precious opals found near Cofax. Wash; aqua
wyoming; an emerald matrix from Crab TFee4
Mountains. North Carolina. and an amethyst heart
from Clayton. Ga
There is also ErOtto of amethyStS. a NINA ture
cave. with lining of massive agate, which can be
illuminated by electric light A large polished and
perfect sphere OF rock crystal Is seven and one
eighth inches in diameter. A great many OF the -
single gems worth hundreds of dollars TIFFANY.
& Co kept the entire collection together after IL
exhibited Buffalo, and refused ali OnerS
until Mr.. Morgan bought It, -.@tH
Ar Kunz has published more than twenty reports 1f
on gems and precious stones for the United states
Government He received the decoration or On1cer ~
OF Public Instruction from the French Governs"
a delegate TO more than twenty con-.
gresses the Paris Exposition of 1900. and IS the
only honorary member of the Chamber or COM
merce of Precious Stones, IN Paris. @- f2