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Feuchtwanger Treatise on Precious Stones

Book Name: Treatise on Precious Stones

Author: Feuchtwanger

published: 1838

Feuchtwanger Treatise on Precious Stones

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New York: A. Hanford, 1838. First edition of "the first monograph on gemstones published in the United States and an excellent one at that...In his Gems and Precious Stones of North America, the eventual successor to Feuchtwanger, published in 1890, G F Kunz notes that 'Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger, of New York, was, in 1838, an authority on precious stones, and his book was one of the first to be written on the subject in the United States. During his long residence in this country, he made an interesting and valuable collection of minerals, fossils, and gems, many of the latter being fine specimens. In regard to the priority of Feuchtwanger's book, I have not found any published earlier and unlike Kunz, conclude that it is the first... "The text begins with general gemology: properties, chemistry, geology, geographical distribution, enhancement of color, gem setting, cleaning of gems, imitations, commerce, and gems used in optical applications".

The second part considers individual gemstones and ornamental materials beginning with the diamond and working through the major and minor species into such rarities as natrolite, apatite, pyrite, and numerous ornamental stones. Feuchtwanger took special care to record as much information as he could find on native gemstones and the localities that furnished them...Another 'first' of the present work is the extended description of pearls, artificial pearls, and corals, but nothing was said about the freshwater pearls of the United States which apparently were largely unknown at the time.