What do you think?
Rate this book
Crown Jewels of Iran
Volume is in very good condition, with a dust jacket torn, chipped, and missing some material. The Dj is now in an acid-free wrapper.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 6, 2026
From the jacket flyleaf of the 1969 edition of this book:
"The most dazzling collection of gemstones and jewellery known in the world is the subject of this book and its 83 full-colour illustrations.
"The Crown Jewels of Iran have been little more than legend in the past. Travellers marvelled at the splendour surrounding the Shahs of ancient Persia; but few were permitted to examine it in any detail. Recently the most spectacular objects were placed on public display...
"The authors have made the first scientific study of the treasures stored in Tehran. They report on a profusion of gemstones without match as a group in number, size or quality. Many of the stones have been only rumoured until now; others were totally unknown gemmologists. The collection contains half the worlds cut diamonds of more than 100 carats; scores of emeralds two inches or more in diameter; a gigantic 500 carat spinel; a unique assemblage of rubies..."
There is a lot more but the parts quote amply defines what this book is - an examination by gemmologists of the gemstones in the collection of the Iranian National Bank. Although there are many 'objects' illustrated the Iranian 'Crown Jewels' are no match for the splendour or age of collections in Russia, Austria or almost any European Royal collection or the objects in the Topaki Palace museum. All the objects date from the Qajar (1794-1925) and Phavlavi (1925-1979) dynasties - so there are no real 'historic' objects - but then the history of Persia has been complex and full of civil wars so the preservation few historic objects have survived. That doesn't mean there are no interesting and beautiful, or at least interesting, objects but to call them 'Crown Jewels' is wrong. For a start coronation ceremonies were different in Muslim countries which is why a comparison to the Topaki Palace museum collection is instructive.
Books like this are more for looking at then reading - certainly the text is heavily weighted towards gaining the approval of the then reigning Shah - there is not even a suggestion of his father's enthusiasm for Hitler. Clearly the book was designed to appeal to a wide public in the aftermath of the Shah's 1967 coronation.
"The most dazzling collection of gemstones and jewellery known in the world is the subject of this book and its 83 full-colour illustrations.
"The Crown Jewels of Iran have been little more than legend in the past. Travellers marvelled at the splendour surrounding the Shahs of ancient Persia; but few were permitted to examine it in any detail. Recently the most spectacular objects were placed on public display...
"The authors have made the first scientific study of the treasures stored in Tehran. They report on a profusion of gemstones without match as a group in number, size or quality. Many of the stones have been only rumoured until now; others were totally unknown gemmologists. The collection contains half the worlds cut diamonds of more than 100 carats; scores of emeralds two inches or more in diameter; a gigantic 500 carat spinel; a unique assemblage of rubies..."
There is a lot more but the parts quote amply defines what this book is - an examination by gemmologists of the gemstones in the collection of the Iranian National Bank. Although there are many 'objects' illustrated the Iranian 'Crown Jewels' are no match for the splendour or age of collections in Russia, Austria or almost any European Royal collection or the objects in the Topaki Palace museum. All the objects date from the Qajar (1794-1925) and Phavlavi (1925-1979) dynasties - so there are no real 'historic' objects - but then the history of Persia has been complex and full of civil wars so the preservation few historic objects have survived. That doesn't mean there are no interesting and beautiful, or at least interesting, objects but to call them 'Crown Jewels' is wrong. For a start coronation ceremonies were different in Muslim countries which is why a comparison to the Topaki Palace museum collection is instructive.
Books like this are more for looking at then reading - certainly the text is heavily weighted towards gaining the approval of the then reigning Shah - there is not even a suggestion of his father's enthusiasm for Hitler. Clearly the book was designed to appeal to a wide public in the aftermath of the Shah's 1967 coronation.
Displaying 1 of 1 review