HE
history and identity of this stone have given rise to much controversy
; but there can be no longer any reasonable doubt that it is the same
gem which Tavernier tells us he saw " more than once " amongst the
treasures of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and which has been variously
known as the " Tuscan," the " Florentine," and the " Austrian." He says
that "it weighs 139-1/2 carats, is pure and of fine form, cut on all
sides in facets, and of a citron tint," a description corresponding in
every respect to that of the stone under consideration. It was the
largest diamond in Europe in his time, but owing to its citron or
yellow colour was not so highly esteemed as it would otherwise have
been. According to the rule given by Tavernier for calculating the
market value of large stones, he finds that " this diamond should be
worth 2,608,335 livres."* It has been in the possession
