Description: Smithsonian Rock and Gem: The Definitive Guide to Rocks, Minerals, Gems, and Fossils by Ronald Louis Bonewitz. NOTE: We have 75,000 books in our library, almost 10,000 different titles. Odds are we have other copies of this same title in varying conditions, some less expensive, some better condition. We might also have different editions as well (some paperback, some hardcover, oftentimes international editions). If you don’t see what you want, please contact us and ask. We’re happy to send you a summary of the differing conditions and prices we may have for the same title. And we do have absolutely new copies of this title in stock DESCRIPTION:HUGE trade softcover. Publisher: DK Smithsonian (2008). Pages: 360. Size: 9¼ x 7¼ x 1 inch; 2½ pounds. From glittering gemstones to fascinating minerals and fossils, “Rock and Gem” is an incredible celebration of the Earth's buried treasures. Including specially commissioned photographs of more than 450 illustrious specimens and information-rich text, this book illustrates each stone¹s unique characteristics and its relationship to humankind through the ages. CONDITION: NEW/LIKE NEW. New and unread albeit "remaindered" (marked as unsold surplus) oversized softcover. DK Adult (2005) 360 pages. New and unread but was marked as publisher's surplus, e.g., a small red "dot" made with a red marker to the top surface of the massed closed page edges. Only visible to the massed closed page edges (oftentimes referred to as the "page block"), not to individual pages. Inside there is one page toward the middle of the book that has a narrow "accidental/incidental fold" along the top edge of the page (not a "dog-ear" page marker). Otherwise unblemished except for shelf wear to the covers. The shelfwear to the covers is principally in the form of a very small (and I mean very small) bump to the front corner of the spine head. Also if you hold the book up to the light (yeah, we're nitpicking) you can just make out a very faint "stress mark" at the bottom open corner of the front cover. I would not call it a "crease", and it is certainly not a fold. But (again if you hold the book up to the light and inspect it intently) it is clear that the corner was stressed at one point in time, if you will, "almost" creased. Condition is entirely consistent with new (albeit "remaindered" unsold/surplus) stock from a traditional brick-and-mortar bookstore environment wherein new books might show faint signs of shelfwear, consequence of simply being shelved and re-shelved, particularly keeping in mind the book is 15 years old. Satisfaction unconditionally guaranteed. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING! Meticulous and accurate descriptions! Selling rare and out-of-print ancient history books on-line since 1997. We accept returns for any reason within 30 days! #7571j. PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS AND IMAGES BELOW FOR DETAILED REVIEWS AND FOR PAGES OF PICTURES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK. PLEASE SEE PUBLISHER, PROFESSIONAL, AND READER REVIEWS BELOW. PUBLISHER REVIEWS: REVIEW: From glittering gemstones to fascinating minerals and fossils, "Rock and Gem is an incredible celebration of the Earth's buried treasures. Including specially commissioned photographs of more than 450 illustrious specimens and information rich text, this book illustrates each stones unique characteristics and its relationship to humankind through the ages. REVIEW: With more than 40 years experience as a geologist, prospector, and gem cutter, Dr. Ronald L. Bonewitz provides a unique perspective on the subject. PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS: REVIEW: From primeval origins to their astonishing modern-day uses and appeal, this is the ultimate portrait of the Earth's natural treasures. A remarkable study of the Earth's rocks, minerals and gems, reveal the beauty and wonder of these outstanding natural phenomena and the fascinating ways they have been prized and used. Whether you are interested in glittering gemstones or minerals and fossils this is the essential guide for you. REVIEW: A fascinating encyclopedic reference on rocks and gems, including their identification, composition, and their use. The many feature boxes cover topics such as the Malachite room in the Winter Palace and the collection of the Hope Diamond and the superstitions surrounding it. REVIEW: Produced in classic DK style, Rock and Gem is an incredible celebration of the Earth's buried treasures. Featuring over 450 specially commissioned photographs and information-rich text, this book illustrates each stone's unique characteristics and explains its relationship to humankind through the ages. REVIEW: As one has come to expect of a Dorling Kindersley publication, it’s peppered with beautiful, glossy pictures...of such good quality. READER REVIEWS: REVIEW: What a beautiful book! This coffee table book on rocks and minerals is absolutely stunning. The book is divided into four sections: 1. Origins, focusing on the evolution of the Earth and the universe, and how and why minerals are formed. 2. Rocks, a species-by-species guide to the major sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. 3. Minerals, a species-by-species guide to the key minerals (silicates, oxides, sulfates, etc.). 4. Fossils, showing fossils of the major taxonomic groups. The strength of the book is sections 2 and 3. Almost every page has jaw-dropping photographs of high-quality museum specimens of rocks and minerals (principally from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History), interspersed with great stock photography. On a visual basis, this book leaves its competition in the dust. The accompanying text is interesting as well, particularly in its explanations of how various minerals (and their component elements) are used in modern society. The species-by-species descriptions are interspersed with sidebars on interesting topics (the Taj Mahal, the Hope Diamond, the Petrified Forest, etc.). Overall this comes closer to being an all-in-one guide to rocks and minerals for the layperson than any other book I have come across. It is a source of wonder that you will find yourself returning to time and time again. It will make you aware of how much natural beauty there is in our world, for those who take the time to look. REVIEW: Excellent book with beautiful, detailed pictures of an extensive collection of rocks, gems, minerals and even fossils. I especially liked the articles depicting the various ways that mankind has utilized these items throughout history. An example being the exquisite pictures of a jade burial suit of an ancient Japanese princess. The book contains plenty of analytical detail for the serious geologist in a format that is appealing to the casual collector as well. Even if I didn't love the subject I would buy this book for the art and history it contains REVIEW: I just love this! It's an outstanding book! It has beautiful color photos, with well written information about the rocks, gems, fossils and minerals shown on the pages. On every page it lists the properties of each specimen. A must for all rockhounds! The first section is called Origins which includes the formation of the universe, the formation of the earth and earth's crust. Next is a section on collecting rocks and minerals. The rest of the book is information on rocks, minerals and fossils. I have several books on this subject and I must say this is my favorite. I could look through it for hours, actually I have. Excellent quick reference book and a great coffee table book. REVIEW: This is a first class book on rocks and gems. Beautiful pictures, excellent commentary about the gems and stones, and all around good information. This is a great reference book. I have paid much more for less information. Not to be missed for your collection. REVIEW: Not only does this book have full color pictures and great information, it goes into detail about every single rock and mineral, many of which I have never heard of. I am a scientist and I love to read books like this in leisure! I gather lots of information in it to write my many articles! If you are to get any book on rocks or minerals, I highly recommend this one! REVIEW: I've been looking for a reference to learn about gem stones after several trips to North Carolina mines. This is the best I've ever found for the lay man. Great pictures and history. I've learned more about what makes a stone precious from this guide than from anyone I've talked to. It also is useful if you plan to visit mines in other parts of the world. REVIEW: I have every book out there concerning rocks, gems, minerals, fossils, etc., and this is hands down my favorite one that I have come across so far; it is my "go-to" book! I have been rockhounding and into mineralogy for a long time, and am now working towards becoming a geologist/archaeologist. So, trust me when I say you can't go wrong with this book! REVIEW: I'm a geoscience student, and this book has become irreplaceable to me. Vital information on most minerals and rocks, the pictures look spectacular and they're in color, which in the study of minerals is essential. Very well cataloged and clear. REVIEW: I wanted to know more about the stones and gems I work with in my business so I bought this book. Well I definitely will know more about my product when I'm finished and a lot more. The book begins with the creation of the world. Maybe a little bit more than I originally wanted to know but fascinating none the less. I haven't finished it yet but it is definitely holding my interest and I am learning a great deal about the medium I work with. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about rocks and gems. REVIEW: A good way to get people interested in geosciences, this book provides a relatively detailed introduction to the world of geology with a heavy focus on minerals. Filled with stunning photographs and illustrations of basic geological concepts such as formation of the earth, the rock cycle and how volcanoes work. Definitely a book worth having REVIEW: I bought this book for my daughter who has a strong interest in collecting rocks and identifying them. This book is very comprehensive. It not only helps to identify rocks and minerals with gorgeous pictures and charts, but it explains how they are formed with basic geology concepts. A beautiful book, and very educational. REVIEW: This book has excellent history, photos, and descriptions in my opinion. According to other reviewers it's not perfect and I wouldn't doubt that, but personally I haven't found anything better yet, as I spent two hours in the local bookstore comparing books of this sort before finally opting on getting this one. REVIEW: Absolutely gorgeous and crammed with technical details. I've been collecting all my life (minerals as well as mineralogy books). This is my absolute favorite. Satisfying for kids, hobbyists, and mineralogists alike. Great section on fossils, as well. REVIEW: This book was great as it discussed more about the origins of the gemstones and stones that I am interested in. Other books I have talk about the metaphysical properties which is great but geographical info is appreciated also. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: GEMSTONES IN ANCIENT HISTORY: Throughout history, gemstones were believed capable of curing illness to providing protection. Found in Egypt dated 1500 B. C., the "Papyrus Ebers" offered one of most complete therapeutic manuscripts containing prescriptions using gemstones and minerals. In the eastern civilizations of China, India, and Tibet, gemstones were not only valued for their medicinal and protective properties, but also for educational and spiritual enhancement. Hereinbelow are a few examples of the uses for and beliefs concerning specific gemstone varieties in the ancient world. Pearls: The pearl is likely the first gemstone known to prehistoric man. A fragment of the oldest known pearl jewelry, found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess who died in 520 B.C., is displayed in the Louvre in Paris. Pearl necklaces have also been found by archaeologists within the sarcophagus of ancient Egyptian mummies. In the ancient world, natural salt-water pearls were principally harvested from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Manaar (Indian Ocean), and the Red Sea. Man has adorned him(her)self with pearls for at least 6,000 years. In the ancient gemstone markets of Babylon, 5,000 years ago, pearls were prized possessions believed to restore youth. Written accounts of pearl jewelry exist both in third millennium B.C. Indian and Chinese texts. The ultimate origin of pearls in the ancient world was the source of many competing myths and legends. Ancient Chinese written accounts tell that pearls fell from the skies when dragons above fight (the pearls droplets of dragon saliva). Alternate ancient Chinese legends stated that pearls were found in the brains of dragons. As early as the Han Dynasty (200 B.C.) the ancient Chinese hunted extensively for seawater pearls in the South China Sea. The ancient Hindus believed that pearls were dewdrops that fell at night into the sea and collected in oysters. The pearl (“mukta” in Sanskrit) was associated with many Hindu deities, the most famous being the Koustubha which Lord Vishnu wore on his chest. According to the accounts of Marco Polo, the kings of Malabar (near present-day Calicut, Kerala, India) wore a necklace of 108 rubies and 108 precious pearls which was given from one generation of kings to the next. The spherical shape of some pearls also led many ancient cultures to associate this gem with the moon. To the Ancient Persians, pearls symbolized the moon and its magical powers, the moon instilling pearls with its celestial glow and mystery. In some Muslim legends, the pearl is God's first act of creation. Many ancient Mediterranean cultures believed pearls were formed when an angel's tears fell into the open oyster shell, or alternatively were the tears of gods. However according to one ancient Greek legend pearls were formed by lightning striking the ocean. Another ancient Greek legend posited that pearls were dew from the moon collected by oysters that opened their shells as they floated on the sea at night. Even the Bible referred to the high value of pearls when Christ said, "the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant searching for beautiful pearls, who, finding one of great cost, sells all his possessions to buy it.” Also according to biblical accounts, the twelve gates of the (post-apocalyptic) New Jerusalem are each made of a single pearl (the “pearly gates” of heaven). "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every gate was of one pearl, and the streets of the city were pure gold, as if transparent glass." Likewise in Islamic Scripture, the Koran specifies that the rewards of paradise include pearls. “God will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.” The Greeks thought that pearls held the essence of love and beauty. A pair of pearl earrings owned by Cleopatra were estimated by the ancient Roman Historian Pliny to have a value of about 60 million sesterces (equivalent to 10,000 pounds of gold, $40 million in today’s value). Who can forget the tale of Cleopatra dissolving one of these two pearls in the presence of Marc Antony, so she could “taste” the essence of pearl. Throughout ancient Rome and into medieval Europe, pearls always decorated crowns and robes of kings and queens. In fact, all of Rome and the entire Roman Mediterranean were “pearl crazy”. According to the first century historian and naturalist “Pliny the Elder” (who wrote that pearls were created from the morning dew), the craze started when a portrait of Pompey the Great was rendered in pearls to mark the occasion of his third triumph (celebratory parade) over the defeat of Mithridates, King of Pontus (present day Turkey on the Black Sea). As well, amongst the spoils of the war displayed during the parade were numerous pearls set in crowns and other jewelry. In the following fashion frenzy the women of Rome preferred to wear two or three pearls dangling from their ears, so they would rattle as they moved, attracting attention to the fact that they were wearing pearls. Roman matrons had pearls woven into their garments, and even used pearls to decorate their couches. The third wife of the Roman Emperor Caligula reportedly owned pearl jewelry with a value of 40 million sesterces ($25 million in today’s dollars). In fact it was rumored within Rome itself that the real purpose of Julius Caesar’s invasion of Britain was to gain control of the fresh water pearls that were found there, and that "in comparing their size he sometimes weighed them with his own hand". In 46 B.C., when Caesar returned from Egypt to Rome where he was joined by Cleopatra and their infant son, he dedicated a cuirass made completely of British pearls in the Temple of Venus Genetrix. In the ancient world, shamans used pearls to help enhance their psychic and divination powers, and to connect with lunar gods and gods of the oceans and seas. During the Middle Ages it was believed that pearls possessed the power to protect the wearer in battle, and so it was not uncommon to find suits of armor for the nobility encrusted with pearls. In Renaissance Europe the appetite for pearls became so great that laws forbade anyone other than royalty or the very privileged classes from even wearing pearls. Pearls were the exclusive domain of the crown and select nobility! The appetite for pearls was enormous, and the natural salt water pearl beds of Central and South America were ravaged. The principal salt-water oyster beds remaining which still produce solid pearls today lay in Australia, the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India, Sri Lanka, and in the Red Sea. The principle sources for cultured saltwater pearls today are Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, the Philippines, and Burma. China, the USA, and Bavaria are the principle sources for freshwater pearls. Unknown today to most, America exported to Victorian Europe large numbers of very high quality freshwater pearls from the Ohio, Mississippi, and Tennessee River basins. So many gems were exported to Europe that the New World quickly gained the appellation "Land of Pearls." Except for the freshwater production of small specimens, genuine solid pearls are by and large only obtainable as antiques. From the 1930’s to present day, cultured pearls from Japan have predominated the marketplace. Most people generally credit the “invention” of cultured pearls with Kokichi Mikimoto in Japan at the turn of the twentieth century. However eight hundred years ago in China, monks planted carvings of Buddhist deities into river mollusks in order to be coated with pearl-like layers, the first recorded cultured “pearls”. Since the 1990’s, with the decline of Japanese cultured pearl production due to pollution and disease, China has increasingly been the dominant supplier of cultured pearls, both freshwater and saltwater. However it is still generally believed that the finest cultured pearls ever produced, with the exception of limited quantities produced in Tahiti, were produced in Japan between 1930 and 1970. Pearls are found in a wide variety of colors and shades, the most highly valued being white, black, rose, and cream. Black pearls are very rare and highly prized, and are typically found only in Tahiti and the Cook Islands. Also especially prized are rose-colored pearls found in India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and the South Pacific. Pearls are formed as lustrous concretion produced principally by certain bivalve mollusks (as well as scallops, abalone, conchs, and even snails). A pearl consists almost entirely of nacre (also known as “mother-of-pearl”), which is the substance forming the inner layers of the mollusk shells. Both marine and freshwater mollusks produce pearls. In nature a pearl starts when an irritant or parasite has managed to get inside the mollusk’s shell. The irritant or parasite serves as the nucleus of the pearl which results when nacre is deposited layer-upon-layer by the mollusk around the irritant or parasite as a defense mechanism. A natural pearl is very rare in nature, and occurs only once in 15,000 mollusks. Cultured pearls are formed when man intercedes, depositing the nucleus of a new pearl inside the tissue of the mollusk, thus “artificially” inducing the mollusk to create pearl. Freshwater pearls are produced by mussels in various parts of the world, though China is the principal producer of freshwater pearls. However pearl production is a carefully fostered industry in central Europe, and the forest streams of Bavaria, in particular, are a source of choice freshwater pearls. Gem-quality freshwater pearls are also produced in the Mississippi River. In the ancient world pearls were thought to signify charity, faith and innocence. They were believed to help to provide a focus to ones attention, and enhance personal integrity. The pearl was known as a stone of sincerity. Pearls were believed to inhibit rowdy behavior. The luster was thought to provide a reflection of the inner self, so that one could perceive oneself as others did. In the ancient cultures of Asia pearls were thought to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They were also used as a talisman to keep children safe. Pearls were also powdered and used as a medicine to promote mental health, as well as an aid for stomach, stomach ulcer, spleen, and intestinal tract problems [AncientGifts]. Opals: The original ancient source of opal gemstones, known in Roman times, was in what is now East Slovakia perhaps as long ago as the sixth millennia B.C. Archaeological evidence indicates that opals were also mined in Ethiopia starting around 400 B.C. Opal was considered a “noble” gemstone in the ancient world and was ranked second only to emerald by the Romans, who sometimes referred to opal as the "cupid stone". The Romans also referred to opal as “the queen of gems” because it embodied the colors of all the other gems. According to other Roman sources, the opal was considered the ultimate in gemstones, due to its mysterious and iridescent qualities. Opals were used in the Roman world for jewelry and were also carved as cameos. The Roman scholar and historian Pliny (23-79 A.D.) in his 37-volume work, "Historia Naturalis", described opal as having "the fire of the garnet, the brilliant purple of the amethyst, and the sea-green of the emerald all shining together in incredible union". Pliny related in his accounts that Mark Antony (Julius Caesar’s “lieutenant”, eventually Cleopatra’s husband) loved opal, and so much coveted an opal owned by Roman Senator Nonius that Mark Antony banished the Senator, exiling him from Rome, after he refused to sell the almond sized stone. Legend states that one Roman Emperor offered to trade one-third of his vast kingdom for a single opal. Worn as a talisman, the Romans believed that opal had to power to cure disease, and also considered opal to be a token of hope and purity. Elsewhere in the ancient world, the early Arabs believed opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning that gave them their fiery play-of-color, and that wearing opal as a talisman would protect one from lightening strikes. In the classical Mediterranean World, it was thought that opals were actually bits of rainbows which had fallen from the skies. Ancient Greeks, amongst many other ancient cultures, thought opals gave their owner the gift of prophecy and foresight, and prevented diseases. The Mayas and Aztecs called opal the “bird of paradise stone”. According Australian Aborigine legends, the creator came down to Earth on a rainbow, and at the very spot, where his foot touched the ground, the stones became alive and started sparkling in all the colors of the rainbow. That was the birth of the opals, also known as the “fire of the desert”. Opals maintained tremendous popularity throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. For a while in the 18th and 19th centuries, opals were considered to be amongst the world's most desirable gemstones, and literally a king's ransom was on occasion paid for a particularly handsome specimen. Opal was also regarded as the patron gemstone of thieves, because it was believed that wrapped in bay leaf, it would confer invisibility. Black opal was considered to be a particularly effective in attracting good luck, and fire opal was believed to attract wealth. Opal was also believed to be an effective talisman for those seeking true love. Women with blond hair wore opal earrings and hair ornaments, believing it would keep their hair from going gray. Opals were also ground up and used as magic potions to heal the body and ward off bad dreams. Renaissance-era mystics believed that opal could conduct the energies of the planet Venus through the gemstone, focusing those energies to the wearer. The original ancient Greco-Roman source of “Hungarian Opals” had been producing opal for perhaps 8,000 years before falling out of favor with the discovery of gemstones of much higher quality in Australia. From that time forward, Australian opals came to dominate the market. Somewhere between 90% and 95% of the world’s gem-quality opal now originates in Australia. The name "opal" is derived from the Latin "opallus", and from Sanskrit "upala", both of which translate to "precious stone"; as well as perhaps from the ancient Greek opallios, meaning “to see a change of color”. Opals are generally divided into two groups, white and black. Both share the similar appearance where a spectrum of colors can be seen in the depths of the stone. Black opal, with a body color from a dark gray to black, containing within the full play of iridescent colors, is the most valuable variety of all. Opals are most abundant in volcanic rocks, especially in areas of hot-spring activity. Opal forms in sedimentary rocks when silica-rich water slowly seeps into the host rock, filling seams and cracks. If the water then hits a non porous layer of rock that stops its progress, and the silica-laden water then sits for thousands of years deep within the earth, the silica will settle and eventually form a solid gel, trapping the remaining water within its structure. It becomes opal. In Australia, this happened about 60 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and much of Australia was covered by a vast inland sea. One of the chief characteristics of the opal is the brilliant play of colors that may be seen in superior stones. These colors result from the formation of minute fissures in the stone as it hardens and the deposition of additional opal in the fissures. The refractive qualities of the original stone and the additional deposits usually differ from one another, and result in light interference causing a play of colors. The milky color of many white opals is attributable to an abundance of tiny gas-filled cavities in them. Black opal, with a very dark gray or blue to black body color, is particularly rare and highly prized. The real appeal of opals, of course, is the rich iridescence and remarkable play of changing colors (as the gemstone is viewed from different angles), usually in red, green, and blue. Modern electron microscope studies have shown that opal is composed of numerous minute silica spheres from 0.0001 mm to 0.0005 mm in diameter, arranged in orderly rows and layers. The play of colors in precious opal arises from the three-dimensional diffraction of light from these submicroscopic layers of regularly oriented silica spheres. In the ancient world opals were thought to amplify one's personality traits and characteristics. They were believed to strengthen memory and to instill faithfulness and loyalty with respect to love, personal and business relationships. Opals were regarded as a stone of hope, positive actions and achievements. Opals had medicinal uses including possessing strong therapeutic value for diseases of the eye, and when worn as an amulet, it was believed to provide the wearer with immunity from disease as well as increase the powers of the eyes and the mind. Furthermore, many believed that to the extent the colors of red and green were seen, the wearer would also enjoy the therapeutic powers of those stones; the power to stop bleeding from the ruby, or the power to cure diseases from the emerald. Opals were used to treat infections and fevers, and were regarded effective in purifying blood and kidneys, regulating insulin, and easing both childbirth and menstrual symptoms. Opal was worn so as to strengthen the immune system and the body’s resistance to infection. On the metaphysical plane opal was believed to amplify traits, whether good or bad, and to bring characteristics to the surface for transformation. It was believed to enhance confidence and self-esteem, improve memory, and to help the wearer comprehend their full potential. It also was thought to bring create lightness and spontaneity, to stimulate originality and dynamic creativity, and encourage an interest in the arts. Opal was also associated with love and passion, as well as desire and eroticism; a seductive stone that intensified emotional states, released inhibitions, drove away shyness and shame, and encouraged sexual liberation. And as opal represented justice and harmony, it was regarded an effective talisman in dangerous places. Last, opal was used by shamans to aid in recalling past lives [AncientGifts]. Jade: The highest quality and rarest form of jade is known as “jadeite”, and is found almost exclusively in Burma, Tibet and southern China (and in small amounts in Japan and Guatemala). Jadeite ranges in color from dark green to nearly white, but can also be found in shades of pink, purple, blue, yellow, orange, red, gray, brown and black. The highest grade of jadeite is known as “imperial jade”, because in ancient China, all imperial jade was owned by the emperor. What differentiates imperial jade from ordinary jadeite is its light to medium “emerald” green color, the homogeneity of its color, and its translucent to transparent character. Nephrite, the more common and less valuable form of jade is found in many parts of the world from California to Siberia. Nephrite is creamier in color and less translucent than Jadeite and possesses an oily luster. Jade was used in ancient times for weapons, utensils, and ornaments, and has always been especially valued by the Chinese and Japanese as the most precious of all stones. Many beautiful hand carved jadeite vases, bowls, tablets, and statues produced in ancient China now reside in museums world-wide. The less valuable form of jade, “nephrite” was widely used by primitive peoples as tools and weapons in the Neolithic, especially in Europe, Mexico, Asia, New Zealand, and North Africa (including ancient Egypt). Both nephrite as well as the more valuable jadeite were worked into implements by Neolithic peoples in many parts of the world, however nephrite was most often used for tools and weapons. The best-known finds are from the lake dwellings of Switzerland, western France, and China. The source for Neolithic jade in Europe remains undiscovered, but it was probably from a deposit in the Alps. Nephrite is very hard and was prized for keeping a sharp edge. One such variety was used by the natives of the South Sea Islands for making hatchets. Jade was mined in China since at least as far back as 6,000 B.C. Records of its use in China as jewelry goes back at least 5,000 years. Jade jewelry can be found in emperor’s tombs dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. Jade bangles date backward at least 4,000 years. Jade was extremely valuable in ancient China, there are records of an entire city being traded for a carved ornamental jade piece. The Chinese have valued this gem more than any other, using it for currency, ceremonial vessels, and marriage bowls. Since at least 2950 B.C., jade has been treasured in China as the imperial gemstone, "yu". The word "yu" is used in Chinese to call something precious, as in English we use the term "golden". Indeed the cost of jade in ancient China exceeded that of gold. In addition to their own sources of jade, from the Kingdom of Khotan, on the southern leg of the Silk Road (present-day Turkestan), yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade (a creamy white form of nephrite known in China as "mutton fat" jade) were made to the Chinese Imperial court. In the Neolithic the Chinese were carving jade into tools and simple cult objects (amulets). By about 1800 B.C., they began making small carved ornamental plaques with decorative designs of animals. The introduction of iron tools (about 500 B.C.) made more intricate carvings possible, and jade began to be made into a wide variety of utilitarian and luxury objects, such as belt hooks and ornaments, sword and scabbard accoutrements, hollow vessels, and, most importantly, sculpture in the round. The craft of jade carving in China attained maturity toward the close of the Chou dynasty in 255 B.C., with designs of unsurpassed excellence and beauty. The ancient Chinese believed jade to preserve the body after death. One royal tomb contained an entire suit made out of jade, to assure the physical immortality of its owner. Emperors slept upon pillows of jade believing that it preserved vitality and youth. In Chinese mythology the Moon Hare made an elixir of immortality from crushed Jade. So of course jade was ground up and drunken as an “elixir of immortality”, believed to preserve vitality and youth. Even merely eating from Jade dishes was believed to ensure a long and fortunate life. It was also believed that jade could predict the stages of the wearer’s life. If a jade ornament appeared more brilliant and transparent, good fortune lay ahead. If it became dull, then bad luck was inevitable. In Chinese athletic competitions, ivory was given for third place and gold for second. Jade was reserved solely for the winners, including high officials in the imperial court. For thousands of years, up through the middle of the second millennium, the Chinese only had access to nephrite jade. Occasionally a piece of two of fine Burmese jadeite tantalized ancient China, but for 500 years the actual source of jadeite proved elusive. According to legend sometime in the thirteenth century a Chinese trader traveling through northern Burma picked up a boulder to balance the load on his mule. Much later when it happened to break open, the brown-skinned rock revealed a vivid, “emerald” green jade. The Chinese were captivated by this stone, and sent expeditions to find the source the 13th and 14th centuries, but they were unsuccessful. Although occasional small pieces of green jadeite would appear in China over the next 500 years, their origin remained a mystery until the late 18th century. Finally in the eighteenth century Chinese adventurers discovered the source of the green stone. From that time onwards considerable amounts of jadeite were transported to Beijing and the workshops of China’s foremost jade carvers. Both Japanese and Chinese cultures traditionally associated jade with the five cardinal virtues; charity, modesty, courage, justice, and wisdom. Jade was also popular in other regions of ancient Asia. A temple in Andhra Pradesh, India is home to a 5-foot high sculpture of an especially revered sage that is carved entirely out of jade, the largest sculpture made from a single jade rock in the world. The ancient East Indians called jade the “divine stone” and used it to treat asthma, epilepsy and heartburn. The Emerald Buddha, enshrined in a temple in Bangkok, Thailand’s Grand Palace, said to have been created in 43 B.C., is also actually made of emerald-green jadeite. Jade is found in ancient Korean burials dating back to about 1,000 B.C. The ancient Turks and Mongols considered jade to be the “stone of victory”, and used it to decorate swords and belts. In ancient Egypt, jade was admired as the stone of love, inner peace, harmony and balance. The Aztecs, Mayas, Olmecs, Toltecs, and other Pre-Columbian peoples of Mexico and Central America carved jadeite for use as ornaments, amulets, badges of rank, plaques, figurines, small masks, pendants, and of course tools and weapons. Nearly all of these Meso-American jades are of various shades of green, with emerald green the most highly prized color among the Aztecs. Archaeologists believe that all ancient Meso-American jade came from deposits in Guatemala. Its cost and rarity dictated that its use was confined to the elite elements of society. As was the case with the Chinese, the Aztecs placed a higher value on jade than on gold. Medieval Europe was unfamiliar with jade as a gemstone for jewelry use until the sixteenth century when jade objects were imported from China and, later, Central America. The Portuguese imported jade from their colony at Canton, China. The Portuguese called jade "piedre de ilharga", or stone of the loins, because they believed it to be strong medicine for kidney ailments and to relieve back pain. Jade jewelry was regarded as symbolic of perfection and purity, and was also a favorite of Medieval Alchemists. With contact between Spain and Meso-America established, jade objects brought back to Spain from the New World were called by the Spanish version of this phrase, "piedra de hijada". This became to the French ejade, and then, finally, "jade". With respect to the name "nephrite" jade, the word nephrite comes from the Greek word for kidney, "nephros". The widespread use of jade died out in Meso-America after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Whether simply folklore or not, it’s still indicative of the high regard for gold in Meso-America: as Cortez cut his swath through the Aztec empire, pillaging gold, silver and emeralds, Montezuma is said to have remarked to his followers: “Thank god they don’t know about the jade.” Jade remains today, particularly in Asia, a highly valued gemstone used in the manufacture of jewelry. In ancient Asia cultures jade was believed to help one access the spiritual world, and was perceived as a sacred substance. Jade was known as the "dream stone". The ancient Chinese believe that the secret virtue of jade was absorbed into the body. It was also believed to provide self-confidence, to enhance fertility, and to re-energize the love between married couples. Jade was said to contain the concentrated essence of love, to relieve thirst, bring rain, and to protect against lightning. Jade drove off evil beasts, helped warriors, strengthened the wearer, enhanced the immune system, and prolonged life. Jade bangles were of particular significance to the ancient Chinese. It was widely believed in ancient China that a bangle would protect its wearer from disaster by absorbing negative influences. For example, if the wearer were caught in an accident, the bangle would break so that its owner would remain unharmed. Another common belief was that a spot of fine color in a bangle would spread across the entire stone, depending upon the good fortune of the owner. Bangles and rings were often made in pairs, in the belief that good things always come in twos. In addition to its use in the production of jewelry and great works of art, Jade was also used as well for medicinal purposes. It was used to ease pain from the kidneys and groin area, and aided in childbirth. In addition to the association with long-life, jade is also regarded as a "lucky charm", and jade charms are a favorite accessory for gamblers to this day. Even Confucius expounded on the virtues of jade. "Like Intelligence, it is smooth and shining. Like Justice, its edges seem sharp but do not cut. Like Humility, it hangs down toward the ground as a pendant. Like Music, it gives a clear ringing sound. Like Truthfulness, it does not hide its faults, and this only adds to its beauty. Like the Earth, its firmness is born of the mountain and the water." Modern practitioners recommend jade as a talisman for those who are trying to change or redirect their lives. As a “stone of change”, it is believed to empower the wearer to break through deadlocks. Jade is also believed to promote family unity, and still believed to prolong long as well. Wearing a jade talisman is believed to attract wealth and prosperity, and to increases the wearer’s sense of self worth and confidence. Meditating with jade is said to sharpen concentration, increase comprehension, and aid in absorbing and retaining intellectual knowledge. The wearing of a talisman by gardening enthusiasts is said to benefit their plants as well as the wearer. Some believe that jade can helps to control the content of our dreams or their focus. Jade is also thought by some to be a very protective stone, particularly good for protecting children against illness or for protection on long journeys. In present-day Asia jade is believed effective in regulating high blood pressure, and in calming emotional outbursts. It is believed an effective treatment for infertility, heart disease, and various disorders of the eye. Contemporary crystal healers believe that jade protects the kidneys, liver, spleen, heart and thyroid gland. Mystics hold that jade is associated with the elemental power of Dragons, and can be used in magic to attract and communicate with them. They believe that jade can help bring visions of Dragons when scrying (with a crystal ball), and that sleeping with the stone can bring magical dreams and help subconscious, intuitive messages rise to the forefront of the user’s mind [AncientGifts]. Amber: Amber is fossil tree resin from long-extinct coniferous (pine) tress. Amber has been found throughout the world, but the largest and most significant deposits occur along the shores of the Baltic Sea in sands between 40 and 60 million years old. Fossilized amber started as blobs of resin exuded from a tree, which eventually were covered over and buried in the earth before being weathered out of the soil, then released into the sea where they drifted to shores as far as England. The oldest fossilized amber deposits discovered contain amber which is approximately 360 million years old. Amber has been treasured and used for millennia; beads, necklaces, buttons, and other ornamental carved objects have been made from this gemstone. Stone Age peoples believed that amber contained the resting place of the spirit, or soul, and that amber possessed supernatural properties. For this reason it was a very powerful material from which to fashion magical amulets. Archaeologists have found amber pendants, beads, brooches and statuettes of people at excavation sites of Stone Age settlements, and believe that the statuettes and amulets represented protectors - world rulers - of those times. Two noteworthy discoveries have included Paleolithic-era beads from 11,000 B.C. found in Southern England in an ancient cavern known as “Gough’s Cave”; and a human-form amber pendant from about 7,000 B.C. discovered in an ancient peat bog in Denmark. An enormous collection of ancient amber amulets was discovered in 1860. The amulets dated back to the 3rd millennium B.C., and were known collectively as the "Juodkrantë Treasure". Consisting of 434 pieces, all were described in the book "Stone Age Amber Adornments" published in 1882. Unfortunately the entire collection disappeared during World War II, and has never been located. The Greek name for amber is electron, and amber was thought to be pieces of the sun, broken off and fallen in the ocean. In Greek Mythology amber was the tears of the Heliade Sisters, who had been turned in to black poplars by Zeus who was furious over the fact that they were crying over the death of their brother, Phaethon, son of Helios, who was killed by Zeus for driving his sun chariot too close to earth, and setting it ablaze. The ancient Greeks attributed to amber the power as a cure for deafness (when mixed with rose oil and honey) and eyesight improvement (when mixed with honey alone). The fourth-century B.C. Athenian statesman Callistratus stated that insanity or wild and irrational behavior could be cured by the administration of powdered amber in wine. In addition to the ancient Greeks, amber had great value and significance to the Assyrians, Egyptians, Etruscans, Minoans, and Phoenicians. The fossilized resin gives a pine tree aroma when burned and in ancient Egypt as well as in India amber was used as an incense to in religious ceremonies to purify the surrounding area. The ancient Egyptians also often utilized amber in the mummification process. In Chinese amber is translated to "the soul of the tiger" from the ancient belief that amber was the spirit of a tiger. Another ancient Chinese legend has it that amber was formed from drops of Dragon's blood which solidified when they hit the ground. It is known from written records that amber was coming to China through India early in the Han Dynasty, perhaps as early as the second century B.C. In Norse Mythology, Amber is sacred to the Goddess Freya, whose magic girdle “Brisingamen” was carved from the stone. It was widely used in rituals to encourage passion or fertility. During the Bronze Age (perhaps as early as the fourth millennium B.C.), amber was partly responsible for a network of roads built to facilitate the trade. The first trade roads archaeologists have evidence for are from the ancient Biblical/Mesopotamian city of Ur (home of Abraham). By 1700 B.C., the Minoans had established jealously-guarded trade routes from Knossos (Crete) to Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Scandinavia where they traded amber, as well as copper, ivory, amethyst, lapis-lazuli, carnelian, gold, and other important commodities. By about 1500 B.C. many of the roads in eastern and central Europe had linked together into an extensive trading network known as the “Amber Routes”. The ancient amber trade route ran from the Baltic Sea, down the Elbe River, and on to the Danube. When the Minoan civilization was destroyed around 1200 B.C., it was the Phoenicians who filled the void, prospering as a sea-trading power from 1200 to 800 B.C. Amber was one of the Phoenician’s more significant trade commodities. By the time the Roman Empire arose, the roads of the “amber route” led overland from the Danube through the Brenner Pass into Italy, the heart of the Roman Empire. From Rome the roads wove throughout the far-flung empire. One principal route ran all the way from Italy to Spain via Marseille and nearby Heraclea, close to present-day Avignon. These roads were constructed of multiple layers of logs, and remnants of some of these roads dating back to before 1,500 B.C. still exist. In ancient Rome amber was worn to prevent insanity and to arouse sexual desire. It was also believed that an amber talisman protected the body from physical harm, so Gladiators would often carry such a charm for protection in the arena. One first century Roman historian credited the source of amber to the urine of the lynx. However first century Roman historian and naturalist “Pliny the Elder” correctly identified the source of amber as being the resin of pine trees, and also correctly identified the origin of amber as being north of Germany. For the better part of a millennium, Rome was the undisputed center of the amber industry in the ancient world. The Romans sent armies to conquer and control amber producing areas. Exotic ornaments made of amber were in great demand. The Romans apparently valued amber even more than the Baltic slaves who harvested the amber. During the reign of Nero, who was himself a great connoisseur of amber, Pliny wrote that the price of an amber figurine, no matter how small, exceeded the price of a living healthy slave. Not until the third century A.D., when wars with the Goths made such trade in luxury items unsustainable, did the Roman domination of the amber industry come to an end. After the fall of the Roman Empire and the ensuing “dark ages”, for 700 years all traces of the amber trade disappeared from written history. Nonetheless during this time Anglo-Saxon and Celtic crafts people produced some of the most beautiful and exquisite amber pieces despite the barbarity of times. By the twelfth century, as Europe rebounded from Rome’s collapse and headed into the High Middle Ages, the Baltic region was under the rule of the Dukes of Pomerania and, later, the Teutonic Knights, and the amber trade resurfaced. Both the Dukes of Pomerania as well as the Teuronic Knights exercised absolute control over all aspects of the amber trade. They even prohibited the unsupervised collection of amber on beaches under penalty of hanging, and required fishermen to swear an oath that they would not retain the amber that came up with their nets. Even the mere possession of raw amber was illegal in most of Europe by the year 1400. As the Knight's power waned, monopolistic trade guilds became increasingly important players in the amber trade. The amber guild established in Danzig in 1477 still exists today. During the Middle Ages, especially within the Byzantine Empire, amber was considered the best material for rosary beads due to its smooth silky feel. The Germans burned amber as incense, so they called it bernstein, or "burn stone." In Medieval Europe the demand for amber was not only for its value as a gemstone, but also for its medicinal uses. According to one Medieval text amber was used for childbirth, to treat excess stomach acid as well as throat disorders, and was used as a poison antidote. It was believed that the smoke from burning amber drove poisonous insects away and the same smoke was recommended as a fumigation to protect against the plague (“Black Death”). It was even recorded in this same source that amber, “if laid on the breast of a wife when she is asleep, it makes her confess all her evil deeds.” Medieval shamans believed that amber could stimulate visions containing glimpses of ancient knowledge. The art of skillfully working amber into beautiful objects d'art flourished in Europe from the late sixteenth century to the mid-eighteenth century, especially in the Northern Germany, Prussia, Poland and the Baltic countries. During the succeeding Victorian Age, due to the belief that amber could impede the transmission of diseases, it was used to produce stem-pieces for cigarette holders and pipes. Amber has also sometimes been used as an ingredient in perfume, and since the fifteenth century has been used as a flavoring agent in the Scandinavian akvavit liquor. From ancient times through the Victorian Era, most amber has been gather along the shores of the Baltic Ocean after violent storms which dislodge the amber from the ocean floor, whereupon it is cast onto the shore. A seventeenth century book on the subject describes amber divers who carried a wooden spade to dislodge amber from the ocean floor, as well as surf riders who on horseback gathered amber in nets mounted to poles. Contemporarily, the largest mining operation for amber in the Baltic region is in Russia, west of Kaliningrad, which produces about 90% of the world’s best gem-grade amber. Baltic amber is also found in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland; and occasionally washes up on the shores of the Baltic Sea as far away as Denmark, Norway, and England. Other amber sources include Burma (Myanmar), Lebanon, Sicily, Mexico, Romania, Germany, and Canada. Amber gained a great deal of popularity recently after the release of the movie “Jurassic Park”. You’ll recall that “dino dna” was extracted from mosquitoes which had “dined” on “dino blood”, and then been trapped within amber. Far-fetched? In 1994, a molecular biologist at Cal Poly extracted DNA from a weevil that was trapped in amber 120 to 135 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The amber, which was from the Lower Cretaceous period, was mined in the mountains of Lebanon south of Beirut. The amber was part of a collection of amber pieces containing 700 insects, including termites, moths, caterpillars, spiders, scorpions, and midges, which did suck dinosaur blood. In the ancient world it was believed that amber was a “healing” stone, capable of disinfecting and encouraging the healing of wounds. Turns out that amber contains succinite acid, which has anti-bacterial properties. Science finally acknowledged what our ancestors thousands of years ago knew. Even ancient baby-teethers made of amber have been uncovered by archaeologists. Other attributes given in the past have included the calming of nerves a spirited disposition. Amber has in many cultures been believed to bring both good luck and long life to the wearer. Amber was also believed to encourage bravery and self-confidence. On the metaphysical plane amber was believed to stimulate intellect and creativity. Modern-day practitioners believe that the bright healing energy emitted from amber draws out negative energy, counteracts belligerent and aggressive behavior, purifies the heart and spirit, and helps in making difficult choices by the removal of self imposed obstacles [AncientGifts]. Coral: Precious coral is the common name given to Corallium rubrum and several related species of marine coral. The distinguishing characteristic of precious corals is their durable and intensely colored red or pink skeleton, which is used for making jewelry. Precious corals grow on rocky sea bottoms with low sedimentation, typically in dark environments; either in the depths or in dark caverns or crevices. Their growth rate is typically under two centimeters (under one inch) per year. Beneath the ocean surface coral growths have a tree-like appearance and in antiquity coral was thought to be a plant, marine trees, and was a symbol of eternal life. Many archaeologists and historians believe that it was the “tree of life” sought by the King of Uruk in the famous Sumerian Epic “Gilgamesh” (written circa 2700 B.C.), wherein the story’s hero went "down" from Sumer to the Persian Gulf area where he had been told he would find a “plant” (coral) that would give him eternal life. The original species in the most desirable qualities are found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea, in particular in the underwater caves of Alghero, Sardinia (the "Coral Riviera"), as well as along the coasts of Tunis, Algeria, Morocco, Sardinia and large parts of Italy. The same species is also found in the Red Sea, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean near the Strait of Gibraltar (just outside the Mediterranean), at the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa. Other Corallium species are native to the western Pacific Ocean, notably around Japan (Corallium japonicum) and Taiwan. The hard skeleton of red coral branches is naturally matte, but can be polished to a glassy shine. It exhibits a range of warm reddish pink colors from pale pink to deep red. Owing to its intense and permanent coloration and glossiness, precious coral skeletons have been harvested since antiquity for decorative use. One of a handful of gems of organic origin (such as pearl, amber, jet, ivory and mother-of-pearl), coral is among the most ancient materials used for jewelry, religious objects and medicine. Mankind’s oldest use of coral was in some roughly pierced beads dating from the Paleolithic age, about 35,000 B.C. Archaeologists frequently discover coral jewelry in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian (Sumerian), and Prehistoric European burials dating back as far as 10,000 B.C. In the Neolithic city of Catalhoyuk (ca. 8,000-7,000 B.C.), one of the world's oldest settlements in Central Anatolia (Turkey), archeologists unearthed the gravesites of babies and children who were buried with long strands of small polished beads made of shell and coral. Archaeologists in Switzerland recently discovered carved coral amulets in (proto-Celtic) graves dating back to the same period of time. Inlays and ornaments of coral have been found in Celtic tombs from the Iron Age, most notably that of a tribal "warrior queen" found in Yorkshire. The Celts of Britain were also known to use coral inlay to decorate jewelry and weapons. The origin of coral is explained in Greek mythology by the story of Perseus and Medusa, the snake-headed Gorgon. After having severed Medusa’s head, Perseus placed the head on a riverbank while he washed his hands. When he recovered her head, he saw that her blood had turned the seaweed (in some variants the reeds) into red coral. Thus, the Greek word for coral is “Gorgeia”, as Medusa was one of the three Gorgons. In another ancient Greek legend “Poseidon” (the Greek God of the Sea, known as “Neptune” to the Romans) resided in a palace made of coral and gems, and “Hephaestus” (the Greek God of metalsmiths, craftsmen, and artisans, known to the Romans as “Vulcan”) first crafted his work from coral. Coral was also regarded sacred to the ancient Greek Goddess “Aphrodite” (“Venus” to the Romans) in her role as Goddess of the Sea. A powerfully sacred talisman in many cultures, ancient Mediterranean peoples believed coral contained the life essence of the Mother Goddess, thus coral has been identified with divinities as diverse as: 1) the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus; 2) the divine Egyptian mother-goddess, Isis; 3) the Roman god of war, Mars; 4) the ancient Hindu god of war, Karttikeya; and 5) Ran, the stormy Norse spirit of the sea. According to one ancient Hindu Legend, during a struggle between “Vishnu” (the chief male deity of the Hindu pantheon) and “Bali” (an arrogant demon king who ruled the earth and sky), Vishnu broke Bali's body into pieces. Bali's blood that flowed down to the sea formed coral. Today in India the name given to coral translates to the "eye of Shiva", the destroyer, third god in the Hindu holy trinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu, a symbol of spirituality and renunciation. Given the many ancient associations with the sea, it is not surprising that the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that coral quieted and calmed the waves of the sea, protected wearers of coral amulets (as well as their ships) from lightning and tempests, and counteracted evil spells, poisons and was used as a talisman to protect against robbery. Ancient Greek oracles, as well as oracles in Palestine, Asia Minor and throughout the ancient Mediterranean, used coral to aid in visions which allowed them to foresee the future. Traded for distant goods like tin and Baltic amber by the Minoans (ca. 2000-1200 B.C., ancient Crete), coral was also traded by the Phoenicians (ca. 1200-600 B.C., ancient Lebanon), and eventually by the Romans. For thousands of years coral was one of the most significant trade goods along land trade routes, such as the famous “Silk Route” between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Central Asia, and China. Ancient Egyptians scattered powdered coral over their fields to protect crops from the ravages of insects or of untimely storms. If worn throughout childhood, coral was believed to make a girl beautiful, preserving her youth and beauty. The first century Roman Naturalist and Historian Pliny the Elder wrote of the protection provided by coral against being struck by lightning as well as to still temptresses, and how the gemstone would change color reflecting the health of the wearer (and thus could be used as a diagnostic tool by physicians). Pliny also promoted the use of ground coral as a treatment for dyspepsia, possibly the most ancient predecessor to today's antacids. During the Roman Empire, for many centuries, there existed a great trade carried on in coral exported from the Mediterranean to India, where it was highly esteemed as a substance endowed with mysterious sacred properties. It is remarked by Pliny the Elder that prior to the existence of the Indian demand, the (Celtic) Gauls had been in the habit of using it for the ornamentation of their weapons of war and helmets; but in his day, so insatiable was the demand in India, that it was very rarely seen even in the regions which produced it. According to Pliny, red coral from the Mediterranean was highly prized by Indian women for use in jewelry and amulets, and the price paid by Indians for the coral was twenty times the weight in gold. Pliny remarked that this was helpful to Rome’s economy inasmuch as Rome had an enormous trade deficit with India due to Rome’s massive purchases of black peppercorns from the Malabar Coast of India. In fact pepper was so popular in the ancient Mediterranean that Alaric, the rambunctious king of the Visigoths, demanded more than a ton of it from the Romans as ransom when he laid siege to the city of Rome in 410 A.D. The trade between Italy and India in peppercorns continued for thousands of years. Pepper was the most widely traded commodity in fourteenth century Europe, and made the Republic of Venice rich beyond compare. The ancient Hindus also believed that coral would attract good luck, and keep away calamities, particularly protecting the wearer against the adverse effectives of the “evil eye”, reflecting the ancient belief that some evil sorcerers or witches had the ability to transmit evil with just a glance. Red coral was also considered by the ancient Hindus a valuable harbinger of illness or poisoning, believed to pale in color if the wearer was ill or had even been exposed to illness, or darken as the wearer began to recover. The Romans also believed that the changing colors of coral upon the wearer could be used to diagnose illnesses, and likewise believed that coral would protect against the “evil eye”. They also hung branches of coral around children's necks to preserve them from danger. Coral also had many medicinal virtues attributed to it, including the power to cure wounds made by snakes and scorpions, staunch the flow of blood, and drive off fever. Ground to a fine powder and mixed with water or wine, it was said to cure a wide assortment of human ills. The Romans also produced a “tincture of coral” by steeping coral in water, the resulting liquid thought to be an excellent overall health tonic, as well as possessing the power to drive "bad humors" from the body as a result of causing perspiration and diuretic action. A protective stone for women, especially priestesses and prostitutes, coral was believed to contain the energy of feminine magic and wisdom, and to the Romans its deep red color symbolized the blood of menstruation. Roman men, particularly legionary soldiers, also wore coral around their necks during wars as a protective talisman. And lest it be overlooked, the Romans also used coral widely in the fashioning of jewelry and other items of personal adornment. After the fall of Rome through the sixteenth century the coral fishing industry was controlled by the Italian Republics. However from the Late Middle Ages onward the rights to the coral fisheries on the African coasts became an object of considerable rivalry among the Mediterranean communities of Europe. The Italian town Torre del Greco (now a suburb of Naples) at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum (as well as Torre del Greco itself) has for millennia (since perhaps the fifth century B.C.) been the main center of coral trade and coral cutting. Originally a colonial city settled by the ancient Hellenic Greeks and conquered by the Romans in 326 B.C., from the town of Torre del Greco, boats of the ancient world harvested coral from beds in the Gulf of Naples, as well as from beds near the islands of Capri, Sicily, Sardinia and even as far away as Corfu. Torre del Greco was particular well known during Roman and Greek times for its fabulous carved cameos. Devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., then again when overrun by Visigoths, Vandals, and Ostrogoths as Rome fell, agricultural lands were depopulated and all nearby towns declined or ceased to be, and the art of coral cameo carving died out. However as Europe began to recover from the “Dark Ages” and the coral trade resumed between the Mediterranean and India, Torre del Greco once again resumed its role as center of the coral industry. Italian men still wear an amulet of red coral which Romans first wore 2,000 years ago. The “cornuto” is a long, gently twisted horn-shaped amulet similar in appearance to a red pepper carved out of red coral intended to protect the male genitalia from malocchio, "the evil eye". Like many of the customs handed down from the ancient world, the silver (once sacred to the moon goddess, Luna) and coral (once sacred to the sea goddess, Venus) hints at the survival of a link between the ancient worship of a pre-Christian horned animal god (the "Horned One") and a mother or fertility goddess. During the Middle Ages a belief in coral’s potency as a talisman continued throughout Europe. It was believed an effective remedy against hemorrhaging, was worn by women as a cure for sterility, and was also believed an effective cure for madness. Those who could afford it added powdered coral to their children's food to protect them from epidemics and plagues such as “the Black Death”. Coral amulets were still worn to protect the wearer against the adverse effectives of the “evil eye”. Coral was believed to enhance the fertility of agricultural fields, and to protect crops against loss. Wearing an amulet of coral was also believed to provide relief to sufferers of arthritis, and it was believed a necessity to carry a few pieces of coral when traveling to ward off witches. As a talisman, it was believed to protect the wearer when crossing a river. Italian men in the Middle Ages presented coral jewelry to their beloved as a token of love and fidelity and to signify their engagement. A sixteenth century Renaissance-era physician wrote that coral "should be worn round the neck of children as a preservative against fits, sorcery, charms, and poison." A huge new source of red coral was “discovered” and exploited at the small Adriatic island of Zlarin off Croatia's Dalmation coast, once known as the "island of red corals”. The deposits were extensively exploited ruing the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance, finally playing out in the twentieth century (which consequentially resulted in much of the population of the island emigrating). Outside the Greco-Roman world, coral was also particularly favored and possessed religious and magical significance through much of the rest of the ancient world. Early Christians associated coral with Christ's blood, seeing it as a symbol of Christ's death and resurrection. Coral was also mentioned frequently in the Bible. Ezekiel (27:16) refers to traders of coral from “Aram”, thought by Biblical scholars to refer to Damascus in Syria or to northern Mesopotamia. Ancient Egyptians scattered powdered coral over their fields to protect crops from the ravages of insects or untimely storms. If worn throughout childhood, coral was believed to make a girl beautiful, preserving her youth and beauty. In Japanese mythology, the palace of Ryujin, the Japanese dragon king, was built from red and white coral. Guarded by dragons, the palace was believed to be full of treasure, especially the “Tide Jewels”, which controlled the ebb and flow of tidal waters. Fish and other sea life served Ryujin as vassals, with the turtle acting as the dragon's main messenger. Among the ancient Chinese and Hindus, coral was held in high esteem, and was used to ornament the images of their gods. In Chinese cultures coral was credited as prolonging life expectancy. During the time the Manchu’s ruled China (from the 17th to early 20th centuries) red coral was an officially prescribed ornamental “badge” to be worn by both royalty as well as high-ranking court functionaries and military officials, either in the form of beads around the neck or the finial atop their official hat. And the practice of wearing coral beads as a court insignia actually dated back to the Han Dynasty of 200 B.C. In ancient India coral was (and still is) widely used in many Ayurvedic medicines. In Indian Astrology wearing the stone was believed to strengthen the constitution, lower blood pressure, increase physical and mental energy, increase lifespan, marital happiness and prolong youth. Ancient Hindus also placed a coral amulet on the body of the dead to prevent evil spirits from entering and taking possession. Together with turquoise and amber, coral ranks as one of the most popular gemstones with the people of Tibet. Aside from its esthetic value, it had a deep religious significance for the Tibetans since red is symbolical of one of the incarnations of Buddha. During a visit to Tibet in the thirteenth century, Marco Polo, the Italian explorer, noted the predominant use of coral for personal adornment, as well as for ornamenting the idols in their temples. Representing the "third eye," coral stands for the "eye of higher perception" often displayed in Tibetan religious art, especially paintings. Tibetan “thangkas”, traditional intricately designed depictions of holy beings painted on cloth used as a “guide” for contemplative exercises, often depict a red coral with eight branches. Coral is also one of the primary stones used to embellish “gau”, portable shrines where verses and prayers are kept, close to the owner's heart. Even today one of the most common neck ornaments in Tibet is a rosary of one-hundred and eight coral beads, each bead a symbol of the never-ending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in their quest to achieve enlightenment. In certain parts of Africa strings of coral once possessed a very sacred quality and were regarded as the most priceless gift a ruler could bestow. Royal regalia often included numerous ropes, collars, bracelets, anklets and belts of coral; coral encrusted shoes; an elaborate coral bead overcoat; a large leghorn hat, also of coral; a coral and fabric crown with a tall coral finial, all of which served to connect the reigning monarch with “Olokun”, the deity of the sea associated with wealth, fertility and beauty. Strings of coral were worn by court officials and administrative functionaries as symbols of the authority delegated to them by the monarch. If the official lost the coral necklace, or it was stolen, the penalty was often the loss of his head. Coral harvested from nearby reefs also played a significant part in Mesoamerican culture, especially among the Teotihuacan (300-650 A.D.) and Mixtec (900-1250 AD), both ancient civilizations of pre-colonial Mexico. Both cultures excelled in decorating masks, sacrificial knives, and other objects with mosaic inlays of coral, shell, turquoise, and other stones. To ancient North American Indians, coral represented the blood of Mother Earth, and was believed to bestow upon the wearer courage and protection. In the ancient world many cultures used coral not only for adornment, but also for medicinal purposes. As well, particularly in Mediterranean countries as Italy, Morocco, Corsica, Algiers as well as northern European countries, coral was worn as a talisman. In India coral was and is still used in Ayruvedic medicine, believed to regenerate cells of the body, to heal rheumatism, genital problems, eye and vision problems, epilepsy, whooping cough, and mental disorders. Reflecting the beliefs traceable thousands of years to the ancient Mediterranean, contemporary practitioners believe that coral increases fertility and regulates menstruation. For young children coral is said to ensure their future health as well as to ease teething and prevent epilepsy. And coral is still used to treat arthritis in the elderly. Coral is also believed to aid in healing bone damage and bone cancer and ridding the body of calcium deposits as well as being useful for dental and prenatal care. As well, some modern practitioners use coral to treat ailments pertaining to the lungs, digestion, colic, kidneys, bladder, as well as respiratory, circulatory and heart ailments, anemia, and to improve nutritional deficiencies. Metaphysically, coral is believed an aid to affect inner change and to dispel foolishness, nervousness, fear, depression, lethargy, murderous thoughts, panic and nightmares. It is said to enhance creativity, optimism, intuition, imagination, visualization, and inner peace. In addition, red coral in particular is said to enhance passion, romantic love, wisdom, and enthusiasm. Calming the emotions, it is also thought to give the wearer courage and improved work capacity, as well as to act as an aid in restoring harmony disrupted by emotional conflicts. Pink coral is believed to have the additional benefits of encouraging platonic love, friendship and a sense of community. Contemporary mystics and shamans claim that meditating with coral can help one overcome fears, phobias and doubt, to bring the light of reason to one’s deepest, darkest shadows. Coral is also said to reveal the secrets hidden in the wearer’s mind (and the minds of others) and to facilitate communication with “the magical beings of the oceans”. And after thousands of years, it is still believed that a necklace of coral hung on the crib of a new-born will drive away any evil and bring the child under the protection of the “Mother Goddess” [AncientGifts]. Lapis Lazuli: Most lapis lazuli contains iron pyrite in the form of golden flecks sprinkled throughout the gemstone, the hallmark characteristic of lapis lazuli, often compared by ancient populations with stars in the sky. Lapis Lazuli was among the treasures of ancient Mesopotamia, Byzantium, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome. Lapis Lazuli gets its name from the Arabic word "allazward", meaning "sky-blue". Along with turquoise and carnelian, the three are undoubtedly amongst the most ancient of gemstones. For more than 7,000 years lapis lazuli has been mined as a gemstone in Afghanistan, near ancient Mesopotamia, and traded throughout the ancient Mediterranean world. The ancient source of lapis lazuli was these very same mines at Badakhshan (also known as the “Hindu-Kush” mountains), in the Persian highlands above the fertile Mesopotamian lowlands. The Persian highlands and plateau provided many of the raw materials lacking in the ancient civilizations abounding in the Mesopotamian lowlands (the "fertile crescent"). Records indicate that the Sumerian city of Ur imported lapis lazuli from the mines at Badakhshan as early as 4,000 B.C. In fact, the ancient royal Sumerian tombs of Ur, located near the Euphrates River in lower Iraq, contained more than 6,000 beautifully executed lapis lazuli statuettes of birds, deer, and rodents as well as dishes, beads, and cylinder seals. Most ancient jewelry typically used one or more of three gemstones (carnelian, turquoise), and lapis lazuli was certainly very popular. How popular? One of the richest examples of ancient jewelry is Queen Pu-abi's tomb at Ur in Sumeria dating from the 3rd millennium B.C. In the crypt the queen was covered with a robe of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, agate, and chalcedony beads. The lower edge of the robe was decorated with a fringed border of small gold, carnelian, and lapis lazuli cylinders. Near her right arm were three long gold pins with lapis lazuli heads, and three amulets in the shape of fish. Two of the fish amulets were made of gold and the third, you guessed it, lapis lazuli. On the queen's head were three diadems each featuring lapis lazuli. At roughly the same point in time as Queen Pu-abi’s reign in Ur, lapis lazuli was also certainly popular in 3,100 B.C. with the Egyptians who used it in medicines, pigments (ultramarine), cosmetics (eye-shadow), carved into seals, and of course, in jewelry. The famous mask covering the head of Tutankhamen's mummy is inlaid primarily in lapis lazuli, with accents of turquoise and carnelian. In both the tombs of Tutankhamen and Queen Pu-abi, two of the richest tombs in all history, lapis lazuli was featured prominently in both. Called the "stone of rulers," in ancient kingdoms like Sumer and Egypt, lapis was forbidden to commoners, worn only by royalty. Ancient Egyptians believed lapis lazuli to be sacred and used it in the tombs and coffins of pharaohs. Much of the lapis lazuli which flowed through the ancient land of Bactria and into Ur was exported to Egypt, where it was known as “khesbed”, which translates to “joy and delight”. In ancient Egypt lapis lazuli was widely used as a talisman believed to provide its wearers with good luck and ward off evil spirits and injury. Lapis lazuli was also thought to possess life-giving powers in ancient Egypt. Lapis was used to produce amulets to protect the mummified remains of pharaoh and commoner alike. It was a common practice to place a lapis amulet, engraved with a chapter of the Book of the Dead, over the area where the heart had been removed from the mummified remains (the heart was believed to be the repository of the soul), prior to the sealing of the sarcophagus. Archaeological discoveries also have made it abundantly clear that coupled with gold, lapis lazuli was valued simply for its beauty as jewelry. Lapis lazuli was also associated with the ancient Egyptian Goddess “Hathor”, goddess of love, music, and beauty, who was often referred to as "the lady of lapis lazuli." Lapis was also associated with both the night sky and the rising run, which was sometimes referred to as the "child of lapis lazuli." The stone was also associated with the primordial waters of the ancient Egyptian creation myth. The Nile was rendered in blue color on grave paintings, blue thought to represent fertility. Lapis lazuli hippopotamuses produced by ancient Egyptian artisans were popular as symbols for the life-giving river. There’s also some evidence that ancient Egyptian judges wore carved lapis amulets of Ma'at, the Goddess of truth, balance and order. These concepts were fundamental to Egyptian life and the rule of the Pharaohs, who portrayed themselves constantly as "Beloved of Ma'at" and "upholders of the universal order". Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs also described medicinal uses for lapis lazuli, including its use powdered, mixed with milk and mud from the Nile as a treatment for cataracts as well as head pains. And of course the ancient Egyptians made wide use of lapis lazuli as eye shadow. In fact, historians document its use as eye shadow by Cleopatra, last of the Ptolemaic rulers of Ancient Egypt. Popular with another Middle Eastern people, the Israelites, lapis is generally acknowledged by Biblical scholars to be one of the breastplate stones of the High Priest. To the ancient Hebrews, lapis lazuli was the symbol of success, capturing the blue of the heavens and combining it with the glitter of gold in the sun. It was also believed by the ancient Hebrews that the tablets upon which Moses received the Ten Commandments were of lapis lazuli. Lapis lazuli was also used by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians for cylinder seals. According to one ancient Persian legend, the heavens reflected their blue color from a massive slab of lapis upon which the earth rested. Throughout the history of the Ancient Middle East, lapis lazuli has often been regarded a sacred stone and to possess magical powers. The first century Roman historian and naturalist Pliny the Elder accurately described lapis lazuli, though the ancient Romans referred to it as “sapphirus”. The Romans also used lapis lazuli as an aphrodisiac, and associated lapis lazuli with the lord of Gods of the Roman pantheon, “Jupiter” (“Zeus” to the ancient Greeks). Lapis lazuli was also accurately described by Theophrastos, the fourth century B.C. Greek philosopher and naturalist. In addition to its use in jewelry, lapis lazuli has also been used since ancient times for mosaics and other inlaid work, carved amulets, vases, and other objects. In antiquity, as well as in the Middle Ages, there was the belief that the cosmos was reflected in gemstones. Lapis lazuli was associated with the planet Jupiter. In the medieval world lapis was ground and used as a pigment as well as for medicinal purposes. For medicinal applications, the powdered lapis lazuli was mixed with milk and used as a compress to relieve ulcers and boils. Lapis Lazuli and the mines at Badakhshan were described by Marco Polo in 1271 A.D., though the first written accounts of the mines had been produced three centuries earlier, in the tenth century A.D., by the Arab historian Istakhri. When lapis was first introduced to Europe, it was called "ultramarinum", which means "beyond the sea". It was identified as an emblem of chastity, and was thought to confer ability, success, divine favor, and ancient wisdom. According to the 17th century “Complete Chemical Dispensatory”, lapis lazuli was effective as a cure for sore throat, used to combat melancholy, and a cure for “apoplexies, epilepsies, diseases of the spleen, and many forms of dementia”. The text also indicated that it could be worn about the neck as an amulet to drive away frights from children (timid children were given necklaces of lapis beads in the belief that they would develop courage and fearlessness) to strengthen sight, prevent fainting, and also to prevent miscarriages. Wearing an amulet made of lapis was also thought to free the soul from error, envy and fear as well as protect the wearer from evil. Ground lapis was also the secret of the blue in ultramarine, the pigment which painters used to paint the sea and the sky until the nineteenth century. Used as a pigment most extensively in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the secret behind some of the most beautiful Renaissance-inspired paintings was ground lapis lazuli. In no small part due to the tremendous demand for lapis to produce ultramarine, the cost of lapis was exorbitant in Renaissance Europe. A price list of gems in the eighteenth century, using the emerald as the unit of value, ranked sapphire as twice the value of emerald, ruby as thrice the value, and lapis as fifteen times the cost of emerald. Lapis was also popular in inlays. In what was once one of the cultural capitals of Europe, the columns of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg, Russia are lined with lapis. Though most of the lapis used in Russia’s landmark architecture was again, from Afghanistan, lapis lazuli was eventually discovered at Russia’s Lake Baikal, as well as in the Pamir Mountains of Central Asia. In the ancient history of Mesoamerica, an inferior grade of lapis lazuli was mined in Northern Chile for over 1,000 years by the Moche, a culture from the coast of Northern Peru (200 B.C. to 800 A.D.), who were skilled metalworkers, producing ornaments made of gold, silver, and lapis lazuli. Their traditions were carried forward by their successors the Chimu for another 600 years, the Chimu in turn ultimately absorbed by the Incas. In the ancient world it was believed that ground lapis lazuli consumed as a supplement bolstered skeletal strength and thyroid function. It was also believed to improve sleep, cure insomnia, and was used to treat varicose veins. On the metaphysical plane, lapis lazuli was believed to enhance ones awareness, creativity, extra-sensory perception, and expand ones viewpoint, while keeping the spirit free from the negative emotions of fear and jealousy. Even today lapis lazuli is regarded by many cultures around the world as the stone of friendship and truth. The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly [AncientGifts]. Turquoise: Turquoise was mined by the ancient Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula from around 6,000 B.C. onwards in one of the world's first important hard-rock mining operations. Archaeological evidence suggests that by 4,000 B.C., the turquoise mines in the Sinai had already been exhausted, so popular was turquoise in the ancient world. Fortunately the ancient world had a second source of turquoise, Persia. The sky-blue variety of turquoise, commonly referred to as robin's egg, is and historically has been the most desired variety. This variety is mined exclusively in present-day Neyshabur, Iran. Archaeologists also believe that it is possible that some turquoise came to the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean from China via the Northern Silk Route. The mineral has been valued for its ornamental and talismanic properties since ancient times. In ancient Tibet and China, turquoise was oftentimes valued higher than gold, and was thought to attract prosperity. To the ancient Egyptians, turquoise was known as “mefkat”, meaning joy or delight. Ancient Egyptians carved turquoise into animal figures worn as symbols of their gods, believing that turquoise itself had divine powers. Turquoise has been found in neckwear and bracelets recovered along with the 7,500 year old Egyptian mummy of “Queen Zer”. The ancient Egyptians not only used turquoise for jewelry, but also wore it as a talisman to keep evil away. Ancient Egyptian Priests stitched turquoise to their upper vests. In ancient Egypt, everyone from pharaoh to commoner wore turquoise. The ancient Persians themselves believed that health, wealth and happiness would be bestowed upon the wearer of turquoise, as reflected in an ancient Persian saying, “the wearer shall never be poor'”. It was worn around the neck or around the wrist in the belief that the wearer would be protected from an unnatural death. As talismans, the ancient Persians also adorned daggers, sabers and the bridles of horses with turquoise. It was also believed by the ancient Persians that the gemstone would change color to warn the wearer of impending danger. The horse-mounted tribes of Central Asia (Huns, Scythians, Cimmerians, Avars, Magyars, Mongols) wore turquoise talismans with the belief that they would protect against falls, particularly those from horseback. Turquoise was also commonly carved into pendants and beads by the ancient Sumerians, "founders" of modern civilization, as far back as 5,000 B.C. Some of the most splendid ancient jewelry ever unearthed by archaeologists was found in Queen Pu-abi's tomb at Ur in Sumeria dating from the 3rd millennium B.C., and in the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb. Turquoise was one of the most prominent gemstones found within these tombs, including on the famous mask of Tutankhamen. Both the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians produced highly sophisticated gold ornaments inlaid with turquoise. In ancient India, Afghanistan, Arabia and Persia, it was believed that the subtle variations in the color of the stone could be read as indications of the health of the person wearing it, and it was widely believed to change color to expose a woman's infidelity. Throughout ancient Asia as well as ancient Persia turquoise was believed to protect against the “evil eye”, related to the universal ancient belief that some evil sorcerers or witches had the ability to transmit evil with just a glance. In ancient Persia a turquoise gemstone was typically worn on a turban, often surrounded with pearls, in order to protect against the “evil eye”. Wearing turquoise as a talisman was also believed to protect one from floods. Though the ancient first century Roman Naturalist and Historian Pliny the Elder wrote of turquoise, known as “callais” to the ancient Romans, it is believed that turquoise wasn’t really widely introduced into Europe only in the Middle Ages (at the time of the first Crusades) by Venetian traders. The trade route which developed saw turquoise being transported to Europe through Turkey, which probably accounts for the name “turquoise”, which is French for "Turkish." It was believed in Medieval Europe that a turquoise gemstone which changed color (became dehydrated) was a warning of impending danger for the wearer. Turquoise was also believed to awaken feelings of romantic love, and to enhance virtues such as trust, kindness, wisdom and understanding. Many Germanic peoples also used turquoise as a betrothal stone, and throughout Europe it was believed that wearing a turquoise amulet would protect travelers from violence, accidents, and injury. Outside the classical world turquoise was also highly valued in Ancient MesoAmerica. As was the case in ancient Tibet, turquoise was sacred to many American Indian tribes. Most Native American tribes believed that a deep connection existed between the spirits residing in the blue sky and the blue stone found in the earth. Turquoise was also used by Native American shamans and healers in rituals and ceremonies. It was believed to enhance mental and spiritual clarity. There are also accounts of some Native American tribes using turquoise to decorate their teeth. In particular Apache medicine men and shaman regarded turquoise as absolutely essential. Following a rainbow resulted not in a pot of gold but turquoise. Aiding the accuracy of a hunter's aim was another power highly valued by the Apache. The Apache believed that turquoise combined the spirit of water (as in lakes and rivers) and of the sky to protect the wearer from all natural calamities. The Navaho believed that turquoise, when thrown into a river, would bring rain. The Zuni (of present-day New Mexico) in particular carved fetishes and talismans in the forms of animals, insects and other living shapes. Interestingly the Zuni believed that blue turquoise was “male”, and came from the sky; and that green turquoise was “female”, and came from the earth. Further south to some tribes of ancient Mexico, mere mortals were not permitted to wear turquoise, which was reserved exclusively for the Gods. The Aztecs of Mexico used turquoise for their fine mosaic art and introduced the stone to the surrounding areas, where it became known as “chalchihuitl”. The color of turquoise ranges from blue and blue-green to greenish-gray, according to the various amounts of copper usually present. Like opal, turquoise is opaque, reflecting light from small transparent layers within the stone. Turquoise sometimes is "matrixed" (known as a “spider web matrix”) with varying shades of gray, brown, or black veins due to the inclusion of various oxides and impurities (often silver), and is greatly desired by many collectors. However the most valuable turquoise is still mined from Neyshabur, Iran, and is known as “robin’s egg blue”, though as is oftentimes seen with ancient specimens of turquoise, when exposed to sunlight or heat, this variety becomes dehydrated and turns "turquoise" green. Other less desirable deposits of turquoise are found in the Southwestern United States, the Sinai peninsula, Africa, Australia, Siberia, and Europe. Turquoise is typically found in association with and regarded as a by-product of copper mining. It is formed when a chemical reaction takes place after water slowly enters into the rocks containing copper, aluminum, zinc and other phosphates. Bluer turquoise is due to the presence of copper in the gem, greener turquoise due to higher concentrations of iron or aluminum, and yellowish green color due to traces of zinc. Being relatively soft, turquoise gemstones are sensitive, easily discolored by chemicals, or even the oils and perspiration of the wearer’s skin. As the color may pale when the stone has been worn for a long time, even high-quality stones today are treated with wax or resin and subsequently hardened. This treatment makes the sensitive gemstone more resistant. Turquoise which has a good natural color and is simply hardened with colorless wax or resin has a much higher value than stones whose color has been “improved” with the use of dye. In the ancient world turquoise was thought to protect against reptile and insect bites (and was even used as an antidote), poisons, eye diseases, accidents and violence. Turquoise was also used to treat muscle aches, pains and soreness, arthritis of the hip, infections, stomach disorders, and bleeding. It was oftentimes used to treat respiratory disorders including asthma, sore throat, and to treat dental complaints. It was also believed to be a cure for blindness, and was sometimes used to predict the weather based on the perceived color changes of the gemstone. On the metaphysical plane, turquoise was thought to facilitate attunement between the physical plane and higher planes of existence, and to foster spiritual growth and awareness. Turquoise was considered to be a protective stone, a healer of the spirit, providing soothing energy and peace of mind, benefiting those people suffering from low spirits or depression. Turquoise was believed to protect against curses, psychic or magical attacks (sorcery), and was believed to guard babies and young children. On the more profane side, Turquoise was also believed to bring spoils to warriors, and many kills to the hunter. New Age healers regard turquoise as the master healing stone, that it attracts healing spirits, and is useful in the treatment of respiratory, skeletal, and immune deficiency ailments; as well as an aid to tissue regeneration [AncientGifts]. Carnelian: Aside from pearls, which were "discovered" as gemstones by prehistoric man, carnelian, turquoise, and lapis lazuli are the oldest gemstones utilized in the manufacture of jewelry. Carnelian is a translucent form of (chalcedony) quartz, and ranges in color from yellow to a deep red, the color due to the presence of iron oxide. Some of the most ancient examples of jewelry included carnelian. Queen Pu-abi's tomb at Ur in Sumeria dated from the 3rd millennium B.C. In the crypt the upper part of the queen's body was covered with a robe made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, agate, and chalcedony beads. In ancient Egyptian jewelry the use of gold was predominant, and it was generally complemented by the use of three colors of carnelian, as well as turquoise, and lapis lazuli. For example the orange accents in the famous mask of Tutankhamun were provided by carnelian gemstones. The blood red varieties of carnelian gained great popularity in the ancient world, and were widely used to produce engraved gemstones. Intaglio-incised carving was probably first used to produce seals. The art form is believed to have originated in southern Mesopotamia, and was highly developed by the 4th millennium B.C. The source for most carnelian in the early Mediterranean were simply gemstones found on the surface of the Egyptian and Arabian deserts. However by the first millennium B.C., carnelian was coming to the Mediterranean from India. The gemstones would reached the Mediterranean either via the Silk Route (if overland) or if by sea, they would have crossed the Arabian and Red Sea by ship, then overland to Alexandria in Egypt, before being distributed by trade across and around the Mediterranean. The ancient Indians were very fond of carnelian. Long beads in excess of 12cm in length (6 inches) were very popular with the Indus Valley populations (present-day Punjab), specimens having been excavated by archaeologists which date back to before 2,000 B.C. By 1700 B.C. the Minoans (of ancient Crete) had established trade routes from Knossos to Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Scandinavia. Carnelian was one of their major trade goods, along with amethyst, lapis lazuli, and gold. Even as far away as Japan carnelian has been found in Iron Age burials. In earthquake-prone lands such as Babylon and Greece, carnelian served as a talisman of good luck. An ancient saying went: "no man who wore a carnelian was ever found in a collapsed house or beneath a fallen wall." Carnelian was mentioned a number of times in the ancient Egyptian “Book of the Dead”. A "tet" amulet made of carnelian was placed on a mummy's neck to protect the soul of the departed in the afterlife. The amulet was consecrated by steeping it overnight in flower-water, after which it was empowered by reciting the appropriate spell from the Book of the Dead over it. The ancient Egyptians often referred to carnelian as “the blood of Isis”. According to legend, the goddess Isis shed tears of blood upon the death of her husband, Osiris. The tears turned into carnelian, which she then shaped into a tet amulet. Isis placed the tet around the neck of Osiris to protect her husband as he journeyed to the underworld. In Egyptian mythology Isis was the equivalent of the universal mother-goddess found in virtually all civilizations, and was worshipped as the mother of Ra. Isis was the sister of Osiris (who was also her husband), Nepthys and Seth, the daughter of Nut and Geb and the mother of Horus, the winged Falcon God. Other early Mediterranean cultures as well believed that carnelian would protect the deceased in the journey between this world and the next. Carnelian was also believed an aid to astral travel in ancient Egypt, and Siberian shamans believed likewise. Ancient shamans believed that carnelian boosted all psychic and magical powers, especially intuitive gifts like psychometry, dowsing, clairvoyance, and astral travel. Carnelian was also widely used throughout the ancient Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Minoan and Phoenician worlds, as well as in ancient Greece, Rome, and Persia for the carving of intaglio gemstones for signet rings and other seals used by dignitaries and merchants to authenticate documents with their own unique personal “signature”. Many of the intaglio carnelian rings and signets produced by ancient Roman and Greek craftsmen and still in existence today, have retained their high polish better than many harder stones. A particularly noteworthy collection is housed at The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Carnelian was probably the favorite gemstone for Roman artisans as they produced the intaglio gemstones so popular in signet rings. Aside from being quite beautiful, carnelian seals and signets had the practical advantage of not sticking to wax. The ancient Mediterranean cultures, particularly the Romans, recommended carnelian gemstones for those of weak voice or timid on speech. It was also thought to give courage to those who wore the gemstone, and also to provide a positive influence on the reproductive system. As with amber, ancient Romans believed that the darker carnelian represented males and the lighter carnelian, females. In the world of the ancient Mediterranean, carnelian was also believed to be strong protection from the evil eye, referring to the almost universal belief in the ancient world that some evil sorcerers or witches had the ability to transmit evil with just a glance. The ancient Muslims also believed carnelian to protect against the evil eye, as well as bringing happiness to the owner. Carnelian was called “the Mecca stone”. Legend has it that Mohammad's seal was an engraved carnelian set in a silver ring, quite possible since carnelian was often used for signet seals. In ancient Islam carnelian stones were also engraved it with the name of Allah to promote courage in the wearer. In ancient Tibet, it was believed that the seven treasures of material wealth were gold, silver, lapis lazuli, seashell, agate, pearl, and carnelian. Carnelian was used during the Middle Ages to enhance fertility, requiring that it be worn both by the male and female for those couples seeking a child. It was also believed to protect from miscarriage during pregnancy. The Medieval Christian Mystic Saint Hildegard recorded that carnelian was used to relieve headaches and as a child-birthing aid. In the Renaissance era cameos were frequently carved of carnelian in the belief that it would ward off depression and insanity. It was also believed that carnelian set in jewelry would help overcome shyness or social inhibitions. Napoleon is said to have carried a carnelian amulet he found in Egypt, as a talisman, echoing the ancient belief that carnelian would bring victory to the wearer in all contests except love. Like earlier civilizations, medieval Europe believed carnelian to be a powerful healer, using it as a remedy for bleeding wounds. A leading medical treatise of the 17th century said of carnelian, “the powder is good to drink against all infections. Carried about, it makes cheerful minds, expels fear, makes courage, destroys and prevents fascinations and defends the body against all poisons. It stops blood by a peculiar property; and bound to the belly keeps up the birth.” “Carnelian" gets its name from the Latin "cornum" (cornel berry or carnelian cherry). The color of carnelian, which can range from yellow to orange to red and even to brown, is due to the presence of ferric oxide (iron). If the ferric oxides become hydrated, i.e., the stone absorbs moisture, the stone will be more yellow or brown. Conversely, if excess moisture is removed, it will become more red (which explains why it was often heated in the ancient world, even if by laying it out in the sun, so as to enhance the red hues). Carnelian is also fluorescent, showing under ultra violet light either a light blue or yellow-green coloration. In the ancient world carnelian had many medicinal applications, believed useful in the treatment of open wounds, sores, spasms, fever, infections, nose bleeds, arthritis, and even infertility. It was also believed that a carnelian worn about a woman’s neck would relieve cramps. Carnelian was also believed to relieve back pain, arthritis, fight infections, as well as to improve circulation to help purify the blood. On the metaphysical plane, it was widely believed in Medieval Europe that a carnelian amulet would protect the home from fire and misfortune. It was also believed helpful in finding the right mate, and to help wearers achieve the perfect balance between creativity and mental processing (left and right hemisphere functions), and thus a useful aid for daydreamers and the absent-minded. Carnelian was also worn to enhance passion, desire, and sexuality [AncientGifts]. Malachite: Malachite and Azurite, closely related forms of oxidized copper ore, both occur in the upper levels of copper deposits. Malachite is approximately 57% copper which gives it its distinctive green color. If blue azurite is left exposed to the elements for an extended period of time, it will slowly weather and become green malachite. Of course then it would come as no surprise to learn that both malachite and azurite are oftentimes found together in the same gemstone. Due to its beauty and relative softness polished malachite (and azurite) has been carved into ornaments, amulets, gemstones, and worn as jewelry for thousands of years. Malachite gets its name from the Greek word "Mala'khe", which means “rose mallow” (hibiscus), referring to the mallow leaf which is colored much the same as malachite. Varieties of mallow are quite common throughout the temperate zones of Europe, where the leaves are oftentimes used in salads. In the ancient world malachite was a famous and very popular semi-precious stone. Its banded light and dark green patterns are unique in the gemstone world, and give it a unique ornamental quality unlike that of any other stone available to ancient artisans. One of mankind’s first green pigments, azurite beads believed more than 9,000 years old have been found near the ancient city of Jericho in Israel. The oldest malachite decoration on record is estimated to be 10,500 years old. It was uncovered by archeologists in the Shanidar Valley, Iraq. Powdered malachite was used in Egypt as eye shadow even before the first Egyptian dynasty (3100 B.C.). It was also used for tomb paintings from the Fourth Dynasty (2575-2467 B.C.) onwards. Malachite was even considered sacred to the ancient Egyptians, as they believed it was an aid to spiritual communication. Also used for the production of jewelry and amulets, archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient Egyptians first starting mining Malachite about 4,000 B.C. in the Sinai, near what is now the Suez Canal, and in the famous King Solomon's copper mines on the Red Sea (the Timna Valley in present-day Israel). The Sinai area and its mines were considered under the spiritual dominion of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of beauty, joy, love and women. Ruins of the old mines, the miners' huts and inscriptions to the Goddess Hathor can still be found in the Sinai. Taweret, the Egyptian hippo goddess of childbirth, was often depicted wearing a necklace of many large beads, some of which were malachite. In ancient Egypt as well as other ancient cultures, malachite was used as a children's talisman to ward off danger, accidents and illness. Even today some cultures will attach malachite to infant's cradles. Malachite was also a symbol of joy in ancient Egypt, and the phrase "field of malachite" was used when speaking of the land of the dead. As well the ancient Egyptians also wore malachite as a protective amulet against the spells of sorcerers and witches, and also believed that wearing malachite in bands around the head and arms protected the wearer from the frequent cholera epidemics that ravaged Egypt, a logical conclusion since the slaves who mined malachite were often unaffected by the plagues. The alleged cholera-protection powers of malachite may have been due in part to copper's antibacterial properties. During the cholera epidemics in Paris of 1832, 1849 and 1852, copper workers appeared to be immune to the disease. Keeping that in mind, the use of powdered malachite mixed as eye shadow in ancient Egypt while conferring beauty and style on the wearer, also had other more practical uses. When used as eye shadow, malachite possessed disinfectant and fly-deterrent properties and is believed to have protected eyes from the intense Egyptian sun. The application of eye shadow was believed to provide psychic protection as well. The Egyptian word for eye-palette is derived from their word for "protect." An unadorned and therefore unprotected eye was believed vulnerable to the “Evil Eye”. Outlining the eyes thus gained significance beyond beautification. The act itself created a personal protective amulet drawn directly on the skin; an amulet that once applied could not be broken, lost, or stolen. Found in tombs of the pre-dynastic period, eye makeup equipment (palettes, grinders and applicators) seems to have also been essential for the afterlife. Following in the Egyptians' footsteps, Greeks also made jewelry and talismans from malachite to ward off evil spells and thoughts. The Greeks also made use of malachite in monumental architecture. According to the first-century Roman Historian and Naturalist “Pliny the Elder”, the famous Temple of Diana (Artemis) in Ephesus (built in 560 B.C.), one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” (four times as large as Athens’ Parthenon), was extensively decorated with malachite. The Greeks also wore amulets composed of malachite for protection from evil-doers. Since the sun was the enemy of all creatures from the "dark side," an image of the sun was engraved on malachite to protect the wearer from enchantments (“spells”), evil spirits and attacks of venomous creatures. The ancient Romans also made use of malachite for both jewelry as well as eye shadow. The stone was considered sacred to Venus/Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, and was used in spells to increase charm and beauty or attract wealthy lovers. The stone was also believed sacred to the Goddess Juno, and was sometimes referred to as the “peacock” stone. The peacock was the distinctive symbol and protégé of Juno. However it could simply be that malachite’s concentric rings resemble the eye like pattern on the peacock feather. Malachite was also referred to in the New Testament as one of the foundation stones of the post-apocalyptic New Jerusalem. "The foundations of the city wall were faced with all kinds of precious stone; the first with diamond, the second lapis lazuli...the eighth malachite…” The ancient beliefs that malachite could be used as a talisman both to protect children as well to protect wearers from the evil eye, black magic, and sorcery expanded into mainstream Europe by the Middle Ages. Malachite was also worn by travelers so as to detect impending danger, thought to break into pieces when danger was near. During the Middle Ages powdered malachite was also used as a cure for vomiting, and many Medieval cultures believed that malachite would alleviate menstrual cramps and aid labor, and malachite was often referred to as "the midwife's stone". Malachite gained great popularity during the Renaissance. Historically the most important deposits of malachite and malachite occurred at Chessy, near Lyon, in France; in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Discovered in the foothills of the Urals near Ekaterinburg in 1635, by 1820, high quality malachite had become very fashionable for jewelry, frequently mounted in gold and adorned with diamonds. Malachite is now relatively rare, however the deposits in the Ural Mountains in Russia routinely produced blocks of malachite up to 20 tons in weight (the largest weighing a staggering 260 tons), and was used to decorate the palaces of the Russian Tsars, including the famous Anichkov Palace in Saint Petersburg, and the 264,000 square foot Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow wherein the “Catherine Hall”, the royal family’s private chambers, contained massive malachite-faced pilasters. Perhaps some of the most famous malachite in the world is the “Malachite Room” of the Winter Palace of the Russian Royal family (now known as “The Hermitage” Museum, also in Saint Petersburg). Designed in the late 1830’s, the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna, the wife of Nicholas I, used it as her drawing-room. The room, including eight columns, eight pilasters, fire-place trimmings and decorative vases is made completely of malachite. Gigantic pieces of malachite were used to make the columns of St. Isaac's Cathedral as well, also in Saint Petersburg, wherein malachite faces eight of the ten huge Corinthian columns that support the three-tier two-hundred foot gilded iconostasis (the icon wall that separates the altar from the rest of the church). By the 1870’s, the vast malachite deposits in the Ural Mountains had been virtually depleted to produce these massive architectural wonders. Today, as for millennia past, malachite is been used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. Still relatively rare, it possess a distinctive bright green color, and when polished often resembles marble. The medicinal uses of malachite, according to ancient sources, included its use as an antidote to nausea. It was also believed to be helpful in treating ailments of the heart, throat, asthma, spleen, pancreas, liver, kidney, lungs, asthma, motion sickness, vertigo, hypertension, diabetes, tumors, broken bones, torn muscles, and for reducing swelling and inflammation related to arthritis. In Medieval Europe malachite was worn with the belief that it stimulated the optic nerve, and improved vision impaired by cataracts. Some also feel this gemstone can enhance the immune system and decrease the wearer's susceptibility to radiation illnesses and injury from the electromagnetic pollution arising from the excessive use of televisions, computers and computer monitors, and cell phones. On the metaphysical plane, malachite was held conducive to increased knowledge, patience, tolerance, flexibility, harmony, and useful in balancing the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of the individual. Contemporary practitioners associate malachite with spiritual growth, as it is said to overcome the bad memories and experiences that took place in past. Many believe that this stone helps to reduce anger, to increase psychic awareness, wisdom, and spiritual “force”. Traditionally it has been employed to aid in the recovery from emotional illness, particularly for releasing feeling of guilt and coping with changes. Psychologically, it can be used to help recognize and release the lingering effects of negative experiences. Malachite has been also been used to promote success in business and avoid undesirable business associations. Malachite can also aid in concentration and is known as a protective stone in the field of aviation, where it is believed to stimulate awareness and prevent vertigo . Malachite is thought by some to promote friendship, fidelity in love, and to be a stone of good fortune which will bring prosperity and material abundance. Malachite is also attributed with the ability to help clear the path to reach desired goals, enhance emotional stability, and counteract any self-destructive romantic tendencies while encouraging true love. It is also believed by some to raise the wearer's spirits and aid with insecurity, confusion, and lack of purpose [AncientGifts]. Azurite: Malachite and Azurite are closely related forms of oxidized copper ore. In fact if blue azurite is left exposed to the elements for an extended period of time, it will slowly weather and become green malachite. The weathering process involves the replacement of some the carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules in azurite with water (H2O) molecules. This changes the carbonate to hydroxide ratio of azurite from 1:1 to the 1:2 ratio of malachite. Oftentimes both malachite and azurite are found together in the same gemstone. Since ancient times both azurite and malachite have been widely used as gemstones and amulets, carved into jewelry, and powdered and used as pigments and for cosmetics and cloth. Azurite is also closely related to lazurite (in past the two were considered synonymous), lazurite being the primary constituent ingredient of lapis lazuli. Lazurite is the “blue” in lapis lazuli, together with calcite (white) and pyrite (gold sparkles). Azurite has been known since ancient times, and was described by the first century Roman Historian/Naturalist “Pliny the Elder” by its Greek name “kuanos”, which translates to “deep blue” and is the root of the English words “cyan”. The deep (“azure”) blue of azurite is exceptionally deep and clear, and for that reason the mineral has tended to be associated since antiquity with the deep blue color of low-humidity desert and winter skies. The modern English name of the mineral reflects this association, since both azurite and azure are derived via Arabic from the Persian “lazhward”, an area known for its deposits of lapis lazuli ("stone of azure"). Azurite has also been occasionally known as “Chessylite” after the Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France, where striking specimens have been mined since ancient times. Azurite beads believed more than 9,000 years old have been found near the ancient city of Jericho in Israel. Azurite was sacred to the ancient Egyptians who believed it was an aid to spiritual communication, and it was also used for tomb paintings from the Fourth Dynasty (2575-2467 B.C.) onwards. Also used as powdered eye-shadow and for the production of jewelry and amulets, archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient Egyptians first starting mining Azurite about 4,000 B.C. in the Sinai, near what is now the Suez Canal, and in the famous King Solomon's copper mines on the Red Sea (the Timna Valley in present-day Israel). The Sinai area and its mines were considered under the spiritual dominion of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of beauty, joy, love and women. Ruins of the old mines, the miners' huts and inscriptions to the Goddess Hathor can still be found in the Sinai. Taweret, the Egyptian hippo goddess of childbirth, was often depicted wearing a necklace of many large beads, some of which were azurite. The ancient Egyptians also believed that wearing azurite in bands around the head and arms protected the wearer from the frequent cholera epidemics that ravaged Egypt, a logical conclusion since the slaves who mined azurite were often unaffected by the plagues. The alleged cholera-protection powers of azurite may have been due in part to copper's antibacterial properties. During the cholera epidemics in Paris of 1832, 1849 and 1852, copper workers appeared to be immune to the disease. Keeping that in mind, the use of powdered azurite mixed as eye shadow in ancient Egypt while conferring beauty and style on the wearer, also had other more practical uses. When used as eye shadow, azurite possessed disinfectant and fly-deterrent properties and is believed to have protected eyes from the intense Egyptian sun. The application of eye shadow was believed to provide psychic protection as well. The Egyptian word for eye-palette is derived from their word for "protect." An unadorned and therefore unprotected eye was believed vulnerable to the “Evil Eye”. Outlining the eyes thus gained significance beyond beautification. The act itself created a personal protective amulet drawn directly on the skin; an amulet that once applied could not be broken, lost, or stolen. Found in tombs of the pre-dynastic period, eye makeup equipment (palettes, grinders and applicators) seems to have also been essential for the afterlife. The Ancient Greeks used it as jewelry, as well as in healing ceremonies, calling it “caeruleum”, and protective amulets for children as well. Since the sun was the enemy of all creatures from the "dark side," an image of the sun was engraved on azurite to protect the wearer (and in particular children) from enchantments (spells), evil spirits and attacks of venomous creatures. Legends say azurite was one of the most powerful healing stones in Atlantis, where its psychic powers became shrouded in mystery. Powdered azurite was used in wall paintings in Ancient China from the Ming and Sung Dynasties, as well as cave paintings at Tun Huang in Western China. The ancient Romans also made use of azurite for both jewelry as well as eye shadow. The stone was considered sacred to Venus/Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, and was used in spells to increase charm and beauty or attract wealthy lovers. Despite its widespread use in the ancient world, azurite was not common in Europe until the Middle Ages. However the discovery of azurite in Hungary and then subsequently in Russia made its use in Medieval and Renaissance Europe much more common, where it became the most important pigment in European painting. Known as “Azurro Della Magna”, it was used for centuries in Medieval and Renaissance Europe for painting and dying cloth until the introduction of synthetic dyes and paints. Azurite was also worn during the Middle Ages as a talisman to protect the wearer from black magic and sorcery, and it was also worn by travelers so as to detect impending danger, thought to break into pieces when danger was near. In the ancient world it was believed that azurite would protect the wearer from harm, and that azurite also had healing properties, the copper content helpful for treating arthritis, swollen joints, and menstrual pain. Modern practitioners associate azurite with spiritual growth as it is believed to aid the wearer overcome bad memories and experiences that took place in past, giving the wearer the strength to cope with changes and to heal both emotional and physical problems. Many believe that this stone helps to reduce anger, to increase psychic awareness, wisdom, and spiritual “force”. It is also thought to reduce abnormal cell growth, relieve the pain of rheumatism and arthritis, and aid in the treatment of asthma, menstrual cramps, motion sickness, hypertension and vertigo [AncientGifts]. SHIPPING & RETURNS/REFUNDS: We always ship books domestically (within the USA) via USPS INSURED media mail (“book rate”). Most international orders cost an additional $19.99 to $53.99 for an insured shipment in a heavily padded mailer. There is also a discount program which can cut postage costs by 50% to 75% if you’re buying about half-a-dozen books or more (5 kilos+). Our postage charges are as reasonable as USPS rates allow. ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per book (for each additional book after the first) so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. All of our shipments are fully insured against loss, and our shipping rates include the cost of this coverage (through stamps.com, Shipsaver.com, the USPS, UPS, or Fed-Ex). International tracking is provided free by the USPS for certain countries, other countries are at additional cost. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. Please note for international purchasers we will do everything we can to minimize your liability for VAT and/or duties. But we cannot assume any responsibility or liability for whatever taxes or duties may be levied on your purchase by the country of your residence. If you don’t like the tax and duty schemes your government imposes, please complain to them. We have no ability to influence or moderate your country’s tax/duty schemes. If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price; 1) less our original shipping/insurance costs, 2) less any non-refundable fees imposed by eBay Please note that though they generally do, eBay may not always refund payment processing fees on returns beyond a 30-day purchase window. So except for shipping costs and any payment processing fees not refunded by eBay, we will refund all proceeds from the sale of a return item. Obviously we have no ability to influence, modify or waive eBay policies. ABOUT US: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Eastern Europe and Central Asia several times a year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient/antique jewelry and gemstones, a reflection of our academic backgrounds. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia antique gemstones are commonly dismounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them originally crafted a century or more ago. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $3 fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.
Price: 42.99 USD
Location: Ferndale, Washington
End Time: 2024-08-10T21:23:38.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6.99 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Format: Oversized illustrated softcover
Length: 360 pages
Dimensions: 9¼ x 7¼ x 1 inch; 2½ pounds
Publisher: DK Smithsonian (2008)
