The Smithsonian National Gem Collection―Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels

by Jeffrey Edward Post

Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the National Gem Collection for more than 25 years, separates fact from fiction in an all-new and original book, revealing fresh information and regaling the reader with anecdotes and tales of some of the world's greatest and most famous gemstones. Dr. Post is the author of the now out-of-print book The National Gem Collection (Abrams, 1997), which has sold more than 50,000 copies. In this brand-new book, he tells the stories of the Smithsonian's most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, Star of Asia Sapphire, Carmen Lucia Ruby, Hooker Emerald, and Blue Heart Diamond--and also presents the tales, details, and fascinating facts surrounding rarely displayed gems from the Smithsonian vault and additions made to the collection since 1997. Not only a resource for learning about rare and beautiful gems, the book also presents the stories of the people who once owned or were associated with these jewels--from ordinary people to kings, emperors, maharajas, celebrities, and captains of industry.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Jewellery, Gemstones

192 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lushly illustrated with professional and detailed photos or every type and description of the gemstones mentioned, this version of the Smithsonian's Gem Collection is split into three parts. The storied items - the Marie Louis Diadem and Napoleon Diamond Necklace along with a jadeite dragon vase and the Warner Crystal Ball (largest known flawless quartz sphere at 12.8" x 12.8" and weighing over 106 pounds). The Smithsonian cup carved from a chunk of agate

Notable Gems from a honey-brown cats eye chrysoberyl. The palm-sized Eternal Fire Opal. Smoky citrine quartz crystals weighing 117 pounds. Tanzanite and demantoid or green garnets. A floral design cut into a slice of emerald by the Mogul rulers back around 1700.The spectacular Don Pedro aquamarine obelisk which is 13.75" high, weighs 10,363 carats (about 4.6 pounds) and was almost sold and cut up into smaller stones. The American Golden Topaz - the largest faceted gem in the collection (and second in the world) at 22,892.5 carats (just over 10 pounds) - along with a 12,555 carat golden sphere with over 1000 facets and 2 giant uncut topaz crystals weighting in at 70 pounds (31.8 kilos) and 111 pounds (50.4 kilos).

Then there are the families - diamonds and the brilliant blue and lush green of corundum which can also be yellow, green or even colorless. Beryl which includes aquamarine and emeralds. Tourmaline which has tits color-zoned elbaite gemstones of green into pink and red. The family of quartz that includes amethyst, citrine, rose, smokey and rock crystals. Blood red garnets along with orange, purple and rare green tsavorite. Zircon which in nature are brown, green and yellow but with heat treatments can become shades of blue, golden orange and red. Topaz and Opals and Spodumene and Spinel.

And of course, no book about the Smithsonian gems would be complete with a section on the Hope Diamond and the legacy of Marjorie Merriweather Post. She donated many pieces to the museum and convinced many friends and acquaintances to as well. In fact, many - if not most - of the items in the collection have been donated to the Smithsonian over the decades.

So - if you like to look at sparkly things and realize that even if you saw them in person, you would not be allowed to get close enough to see the details and intense colors (if the pieces are even on display at the time of your visit), this will definitely be worth a careful examination of each picture.

I will note that the 5 stars was more due to the gorgeous pictures rather than the rather repetitious short histories that accompanied the storied and notable pieces.

2021-149

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry for the easy pun, but this is a gem of a book. I discovered it because our library is going to stream an author talk in December, and I was able to get a copy to count towards my "Nonfiction November" reading challenge. I didn't expect to like it so much, but I appreciated the stories, the pertinent information about gemstones and minerals, and the gorgeous photos. Along the way we also learn a little something about the process of museum acquisitions. I doubt Unearthed is on audio, but if it is don't cheat yourself by missing out on the photos.

After the intro, the first 25 pages are devoted to donations by Marjorie Merriweather Post, a relative of author Jeffrey E. Post, emeritus curator of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection. We don't learn much about her life other than that she was heir to the Post cereal fortune, but we do see a couple of lovely portraits and photos of a pretty woman who made significant donations to share these treasures with the American people. (Imo, how fitting as Americans' consumption of the cereal funded the purchases 😃)
The first item is a pair of Marie Antoinette's earrings. The last item presented in the book is the book is the Hope diamond, which I saw as nice symmetry because we learn it was formerly the French Blue Diamond of King Louis XIV (Marie's husband). The entire story of that diamond is wild, so don't stop reading before the end of the book! It includes some unbelievable shenanigans by an American owner which to me also bracketed the book by contrasting those two types of society women.

In between, there is so much to see and learn, and the stories are short enough that you might enjoy reading them out to short-attention-span family or friends, or showing them pictures of your favorites (I have to restrain myself from listing all of mine here!) Being able to share what you read is a good thing. Today hubby told me the a story of manmade diamonds, which are supposed to be "perfect," and I was able to share examples from this book about properties of natural gems that make them so much cooler. 💎

[LaRue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pros: What really took my breath away was the photography! As someone who dabbles in photography, whatever camera and equipment this guy used produced STUNNING, crisp, and clean photos. you could see each individual stone/gem/diamond shine. So detailed and in depth, that is art in of itself! I learned the different kinds of cuts and can maybe tell which cut a gem is now! I also learned the different ways gems can be re-set into different jewelry which has never crossed my mind as being possible. I learned that a baguette cut diamond is not the style for me (though I don't do diamonds anyway). there's a stone in here for everyone to enjoy. I also learned the Museum had a crystal ball! very fascinating!!

Pros: while many may find the history of these things as they're passed from hand to hand interesting and fascinating, it wasn't really the parts I enjoyed. however, I did learn the CEO of SUBWAY bought a gem and donated it to the museum. but the history of who's hands passed it to who, was I thought- a little dry. the names kind of blended together. it didn't help that I'm not really knowledgeable about Actors/actresses/influential people in general. They also only left like.. three paragraphs on the diamond that's supposedly haunted and I really wanted more info in that area. they just grazed it.

One of my favorite books by far. I'm so much more knowledgeable in gems than I was before and I was sharing everything I was learning with other people cause I was just amazed. there's literally something in here for everyone!!

for these reasons a good 5/5 stars. highly recommend to anyone who loves history, photography, jewelry and gems!!

[Matthew Gibb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are really stunning and even surreal. The book is arranged in a kind of dictionary like format for some parts and others are more a collection of stories behind the great gems. One has to wonder why anyone would intentionally give up such stunning pieces of jewlery? I especially liked seeing the side by side pictures lit up of the same gems with incandescent and flourescent lighting. I still dont understand how a gem is identified as a ruby, sapphire, emerald, garnet etc.I can now appreciate the various cuts mentioned quite well and seeing raw stones by polished gems really show the exquiste workmanship and detail put into these mesmerizing works of wearble,prestigious art.

[MKF]

The photographs in this book are stunning and I wish they were the main focus. In the first secction the stories started sounding the same and became boring very quickly. It was then divided sectioned off into notable gems and gem families which I really didn't understand. My opinion is if the whole book was done like the notable gems section this book would of been so much better. Of course, the Hope Diamond gets it's own section which seems unfair. Overall it's a good book I just wouldn't recommend reading it from cover to cover like I did.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good balance of beautiful, large colored pictures, historical background and gemology.

This is a beautiful, informative and entertaining book which will be appreciated by people who are interested in jewelry as art and as pieces of history, or in gems as wonderful natural features.

Will also probably give pangs to Brazilian, Colombian, Indian and South African readers as most of the best gems are originated from these countries. Me being Brazilian, I was not exactly amused by the story of the smuggled giant acquamarine.

[Cara Noyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photographs in this book are 5 star! The details one can see if the gem facets is incredible.
Post’s writing jumped around too much for me. Stories doubled back a lot as provenance was discussed. Some tales were interesting and other became monotonous.

Over half of the stories were like…
The stone was mined in this year, cut in this year, blah blah …purchased by this person, sold to that person, blah blah and eventually donated to Smithsonian.

But again the photos are amazing!!!

[Citri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not expecting some of the stories would be so juicy! There's a handful of interesting characters in this that definitely enrich the history behind the jewels. The pictures included are stunning.

I can't comprehend the wealth one must have to donate such finery away like it's no big deal, but the fact they do gives the museum a lot to work with.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating stories and gorgeous photos of the jewels from the Smithsonian.

[Fred Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are into gemstones or jewelery the Smithsonian can scratch all those itches. The back ground on some of its acquisition is truly fascinating,

Well worth the price

[Cathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great photos. Stories about the rich people throughout history became tiresome after the first few, but that's just me.

[Christy Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with gorgeous pictures, filled with the stories behind the gems. I enjoyed every page.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's worth five stars just for the photos. Which are often stunning full page images. Beautiful.
But it's also informative and interesting, and written in a concise, no nonsense, no waffle manner.

[Emily Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the tid bits on collecting and being approached by potential donors.

[G S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for pretty things