Transcriber's Notes.
Hyphenation has been standardised.
A number of different spellings have been retained, e.g. rubies/rubyes,encrusted/incrusted.
Other changes made are noted at the end of the book.
THE PEARL
H. M. QUEEN ALEXANDRA AND HER PEARLS
THE PEARL
ITS STORY, ITS CHARM,
AND ITS VALUE
BY
W. R. CATTELLE
AUTHOR OF
"PRECIOUS STONES"
WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS
PHILADELPHIA & LONDON
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
MDCCCCVII
Copyright, 1907
By J. B. Lippincott Company
Published September, 1907
Electrotyped and printed by J. B. Lippincott Company
The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U. S. A.
NOTE
In these pages the story of the pearl is toldfrom its birth and growth under tropic seas,through the search for it by dark skinned diversof the Orient and its journeyings by thehands of men who traffic in precious things,until it becomes finally the cherished familiarof the great. Historical and traditional allusions,the sentiment and superstitions, theromance of ancient and noble associations,drawn to it through the ages, are garnered hereand to them added the more prosaic facts whicha merchant's experience suggests, to enablelovers of the dainty sea-gem to discriminate.The qualities which make some pearls of greatvalue and the imperfections which renderothers less valuable are described in detail,that owners and buyers may appreciate at theirtrue value the gems they have or would purchaseand the market price of all kinds is given.Means for the detection of imitations areincluded.
Long time has been given to microscopicresearch and though much remains to be learnedof the genesis of the pearl, it is hoped thatsomething of value has been added to theknowledge of Nature's wonderful and curiousprocesses whereby through the humblest shemakes a jewel fit to adorn the most beautifulof her creatures—woman.
My thanks are due Messrs. Combes & VanRoden of Philadelphia for the loan of theoriginal photographs from which were made thereproductions of the portraits of Queen Alexandra,The Marchioness of Londonderry, CountessTorby and Princess Lazareff, which will, Itrust, be of great interest to lovers of pearls:also to Mr. Ludwig Stross for much valuableinformation about Oriental pearl fisheries.
W. R.