Riches Of The Earth

By Frank J Anderson
The Rutledge Press
1981 ISBN 0-8317-7739-7

The Rutledge Press writes:

Because of their beauty and usefulness, ornamental, precious, and semi-precious stones have always had a close relationship with human civilization, whether endowed with religious significance, used as building materials, or wrought into works of art.

Riches of the Earth presents a vivid survey of the unique histories of the major precious and semi-precious stones. Beginning with prehistoric man’s first tools and ending with laser beams and holographs, the chapters of Riches of the Earth deal with religion, magic, superstition; associations with famous people and places; legends, discoveries, forgeries, and thefts. Among the wealth of material are the colorful myths surrounding Chinese jade, the story of ornamental stones during the Middle Ages, the magnificence of the world’s most precious royal collections, the symbolism of stones, stories of beautiful treasures lost, and the real powers of stones used today—plus a chapter on the what, where, and how of collecting.

Forty eight pages of full color illustrations enhance this fascinating history of man’s ongoing enchantment with stones. Riches of the Earth is a delight for the connoisseur and a display of excellence to inspire every collector of rocks and minerals.