Evening star., 1935-02-01
CAPITAL Center
OF DIAMOND LORE
Kunz Books, Including One
of Isaac Newton, Now in
Geological Survey.
Washington now is the world CEN

Washington now is the world CEN
ter for students of the diamond.
Whatever is known of the science,
mystery and folklore of the precious
stones for which kingdoms have been
overthrown, including the histories of
individual jewels which have figured
in some of the most colorful episodes,
Is now available with the addition
to the library of the United States
Geological Survey of the 100000
book collection of the late George
Frederick KunZ of New York, former
vice president of Tiffany's and known
as one of the worlds greatest diamond
experts.
The assembling of this collection
of rare books from all over the world
was one of DR.. Kunz'S chief hobbies.
Wherever there was a publication,
ancient or modern, dealing with dia-
monds or other precious stones any,
where in the world, he made point
of securing it. Much of the material
is unduplicable and today would be
practically priceless.
Tattered Old Book.
Perhaps the most valued of all
these volumes is tattered old book,
"The History of Jewels and the
Principle Riches of the East and West
Taken From the Relations of the
Most Famous Travellers of Our Age
which was published in 1911 and was
the personal property of Sir Issac
Newton. The page margins contain
many notes in NeWton'S own hand
writing. Toward the end of his life
the great natural philosopher became
interested in alchemy and the posi-
bilities of producing artificial dia-
mondS. He made some of the first
contributions to the chemistry of the
diamond which he described as an
''unctuous body coagulated." More
than a century later science determ-
ined that the diamond was pure car
bon and that there might be some
more substantial basis for hopes OF
its artificial production than the Wlerd
speculations of the alchemists.
DR.. Kunz made it point to secure
the original treatises of famous sclen-
lists who had speculated on, or ex-
perimented with, diamonds. Thus he
collected all the early works OF the
British physicist, Robert Ball, and
the original treatises of Lavoisier, the
father of modern chemistry. One OF
the choice articles in the collection
is the rare book, de Veneris,' OF
Bacci, physician to the Borgias, who
compiled the speculationS of his age
on the use of diamond dust in poiSons.
Later Dr. KunZ became interested in
radium, largely because of its use in
changing the color of gems, and Sc
cured autographed copies Of all the
works of the Curies. Besides his COL
lections dealing with diamonds, he
also gathered in rare books on other
precious stones, pearls and ivory. The
collections sometimes led far afleld
to the memoirs and autobiographies
of colorful historical personages noted
as gem collectors.
Cataloging Under Way.
The collection now is being cata-
logged, and Guy Elliott Mitchell,
Geological Survey librarian, is seek
ing funds for rebinding many of the
most valuable volumes which are in
serious danger of deterioration.
Especially with the addition of the
Kunz collection, Mr.. Mitchell says,
the Geological Survey is now the cut
standing collection of material deal
ing with geology in the world Orig
inally it occupied a single small room
in the old National Museum Building,
1t has grown until it now comprises
more than 100000 volumes. 1t is rich
not only in strictly geological ma
terial, but in accounts of early Amer
lean explorations which cannot be
obtained elsewhere. Students come
here from all over the world to con-
suit it.
The library is designed primarily
as working collection for geologistS
of the Geological Survey and is a
great storehouse of vital information
on the mineral resources of America.
1t constantly is being called upon to
lend material to other libraries whose
stats and graduate students have
urgent need Of material which can
not be obtained anywhere else.