Of
greater antiquity and archaeological value, because representing a
period before gems were cut in the form of intaglios, is the collection
of the Rev. W. Hayes Ward, consisting of 300 Babylonian, Persian, and
other cylinders. Two hundred of these he himself collected in Babylon
and its vicinity, and sold to the Museum at a nominal figure. Since
that time he has collected 100 more cylinders. Many of them date from
2500 B. C. to 300 B. C, and are cut in lapis lazuli, agate, canjelian,
hematite, chalcedony, jasper, sard, etc.
The
death of Dr. Isaac Lea, of Philadelphia, in his ninety-fifth year,
deprived the world of a great investigator in the field of precious
stones. During the last twenty years of his exceptionally long and
useful life, he devoted almost his entire time to studyiug the
microscopic inclusions in gems and minerals, and the cabinet he left
contains thousands of specimens of rubies, sapphires, chrysoberyls,
tourmalines, garnets, quartz, etc., all of which he had subjected to
the most rigid microscopic scrutiny, noting every interesting fact on
the accompanying label. Only a small part of his work on this highly
interesting subject has been published by the Philadelphia Academy of
Sciences in two papers (in 1869 and 1876), but Dr. Lea made ample
provision in his will for the publication of the remainder. His
extensive collections of minerals and shells were bequeathed to the
National Museum and the gem collection to his daughter. Two months
before his death the writer spent two hours with him examining a series
of quartz inclusions, over which he worked with all the enthusiasm and
brightness of youth.
One
of the many benefits traceable to the New Orleans Exposition was the
appropriation given to the National Museum for their exhibit. This was
wisely expended by Prof. F. W. Clarke in the purchase of a complete
series of precious stones, many of which, although not expensive, are
still the finest in the United States, from an educational standpoint.
Since the exposition, many fine specimens have been added by purchase
and donation, especially the diamonds and pearls presented by the Iman
of Muscat to President Buchanan, consisting of 138 diamonds and 150
pearls, all of good quality. The collection numbers about 1,000
specimens, and embraces almost every known variety of precious stone,
many of them very fine examples.
