values
at four thousand dollars, is one and three quarters inches long by one
and a quarter inches wide ; another, one and-a quarter inches long by
one inch wide, he prizes at. seven hundred and fifty dollars; and a
third, one and one eighth inches long by one inch wide, he values at
four hundred and fifty dollars.
The
ancients held the opal in great estimation, and the anecdote of the
Roman senator, Nonius, is well known— that he preferred exile to
parting with a magnificent opal which Marc Antony coveted.
In
the French crown-jewels are two very large and beautiful opals. One is
set in the centre of the Order of the Golden Fleece, and the other
forms the clasp of the imperial cloak. They were purchased for 75,000
francs. The Empress Josephine possessed the unique opal which was
called "The Great Fire of Troy," on account of the great fire sparkles.
The
Vienna Cabinet possesses a very large opal, but unfortunately it is
cracked. Count Walewski, who is a great amateur of gems, possesses a
very beautiful opal, which is oval, the size of a franc-piece, and is
said to be extraordinarily brilliant
The
Imperial Mineralogical Cabinet at Vienna, contains the most celebrated
specimens of precious opal; one, particularly, may be mentioned here:
it is four and three quarter inches long, two and a half inches thick,
and weighs seventeen ounces. It was discovered about' 1770, at the
above locality, and transported to Vienna. It displays the most
magnificent colors; is perfectly pure, and not accompanied by any.
matrix. Half a million of florins were offered for it by a jeweller of
Amsterdam, and refused on account of its uniqueness; and the Viennese
have not yet dared to put even any approximate value upon it.
