Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-03-31
THE NEW GREATEST DIAMOND.
Facts About the Big Jewel and the COM
pany That Found II.

pany That Found It.
The news of the finding of the great
3032-carat diamond in the Premier mine
in South Africa reported Friday, was re-
ceived by ex-Congressman Jefferson NJ.
Levy Of New York from the mining COM
pany, of which he is the heaviest stock
holder in this country. He said OF the
company Friday: THE Premier mine was
opened about two years ago. The COM
pany is known as the Premier Diamond
mine in the Transvaal.' 1t had capital
stock of $4,000. 1t has paid well from
the first. Three months ago the stock was
selling in London at e35 a share. Ten
days ago the price had advanced to ISL.
Last week the stock was reapportioned.
For every 100 shares the holder got 400
shares in deferred stock 0xnown here as
common stock) and 200 shares preferred
stock. Yesterday the deferred stock was
quoted in London at Els a share. Today
after the news of the big find II was
selling at s19. The preferred stock sold
yesterday in London at sS4; today it
was R10. For several months the De-
Beers company, which owns most Of the
big mines in the Kimberley region, with
an enormous capital, has been after the
Premier mine, but the company has re-
fused to sell and has remained independ-
emit"
George F. Kunz, the Tiffany expert.
the diamond found in the Premier mine.
1t was the largest diamond ever found,
he said. A few years ago black dia-
mond was found in Brazil which weighed
1882 carats. 1t was Of no use except
cut up and used on diamond drills. Elk
cept for this, the gem just found is three
times bigger than any other yet dis
covered. Approximately, he said, 1t
weighed about 621.56 CRANES, or about
a pound and half avoirdupois. 1t would
lose from 40 to 60 per cent. in cutting, de-
pending on the shape of the stone. He
thought that 1t was likely that a diamond
of such size would be left as large as
possible by the cutters. The last dia-
mond of any note found In recent years
was the Syndicate" dug up In the De-
Beers mines about two years ago. 1t
weighed, uncut, $50 carats. 1t was said
to have been purchased by the Tinanys
and cut up. Most Of it is now believed
to be in the Tiffany store in New York.
The new diamond Weighing 1882 carats
will rank as the largest diamond ever
found. Some of the others notable for
their size or history are the Great Mogul,
the Orion, the Regent, the Florentine, the
Southern Star, the Koh-i-noor, the Shah,
the Sanci and the Polar Star. The col
lection of gems of the late emperor OF
Brazil was said to have contained dia-
mond known as the Brazanza, which
weighed 1880 carats, or ~ ounces. 1t Is be-
lieved, however, that 1t was only a fine
colorless topaz. 1t is the only diamond
that approaches the new gem in size.
Another large diamond, when cut, was
one owned by the rajah Of Mattan. 1t
weighed 367 carats and was egg shaped,
with an indented hollow near one end.
Many years ago the governor OF Borneo
offered 100000 two warships fully
equipped and a number OF cannon and
quantity of powder for II.
m ,,I F.al, { 4 N1
found. but cut down to 1856 carats and
later to 1929 carats. 1t is valued at
$500, 900. 1t was once in the possession
of the Great Mogul 1t is believed that in
the first cutting a big piece, weighing $50
carats after the cutting, and since known
as the Orloff was taken by the cutter
The Orion is owned by the emperor of
Russia and is said once TO have been the
eye of an Indian idol. 1t is valued at
81, 900, 900. The Regent, another famous
jewel, weighed $50 carats and cut down
to 1856. In 1891 II was valued at 81, 400, 900.
Since then 1t has not been valued. 1t is
unrivaled for limpidness and form. 1t was
found in Golconda and brought from In
dia by Pitt, the grandfather Of the first
earl of Chatham, who sold 1t to the duke
of Orleans for 9130000. It decorated the
hilt of the sword of state of the first Ma
poleon and was taken from him by the
Prussians at the battle of Waterloo. 1t
uOW pSlOuBS " the hliB VI IiuSSieis
The Star of South Africa weighed 2SS
carats and cut TO 1856 carats. 1t was sold
to an oriental potentate for 100000 The
Florentine weighed 1856 carats after leav-
ing the cutters hands and was sold for
about $4,000 The Victoria diamond,
shown at the Paris exposition in 1889,
was sold to the Nizam of Hyderabad for
100000, nearly years income of his
realm.
In point Of historical interest, the Sanci
diamond probably comes first. 1t weighed
106 carats and belonged TO Charles the
Bold, duke of Burgundy, who wore it in
his hat at the battle of Nancy at which
he fell. A Swiss soldier found the jewel
and sold 1t to a clergyman for a gulden.
1t passed into the possession Of Anton,
king of Portugal who was obliged to sell
II for 100, 900 francs. 1t then got into the
possession Of Sanci, a Frenchman, one
OF whose descendants was sent as en-
bassador by his sovereign, who required
the diamond as pledge. The servant