A number of the supposed diamond discoveries will be found at the end of the first chapter.
It
is not intended to make this volume either a complete treatise on
precious stones or on the science of mineralogy, but to confine it more
particularly to the occurrence of precious stones in North America, and
for comparison, occasional reference is made to foreign sources and
authorities.
The
beautiful colored plates contained in this volume are the work of the
eminent art lithographers, Messrs. L. Prang & Co., of Boston,
Mass., and are unquestionably the finest work of the kind ever
published. The writer's thanks are extended to Messrs. Tiffany &
Co. for the facilities afforded by their corps of artists in the
preparation of the original designs used in the production of these
plates.
During
the preparation of this work, much valuable assistance has been
received from the following gentlemen, to whom the author begs to
tender his most sincere thanks.
Maj.
John W. Powell, William H. Holmes, Prof. Frank W. Clarke, Joseph S.
Diller, and Dr. David T. Day, of the United States Geological Survey ;
Lester F. Ward, Frank H. Knowlton, William H. Dall, George H. Merrill,
Dr. Thomas Wilson and Dr. Robert E. C. Stearns, of the United States
National Museum ; Prof. Edward S. Dana, Dr. Samuel L. Penfield and Mr.
O. H. Drake, of Yale University ; Dr. Augustus C. Hamlin, Bangor, Me.;
Dr. Robert Lilley, Dr. Marcus Benjamin, Prof. Daniel S. Martin, Mr.
James D. Yerrington, Prof. Oliver P. Hubbard and Mr. C. J. Cottier, of
New York City, also Dr. E. Hamy, of Paris, France.