THE SCIENCE OF GEMS JEWELS COINS & METALS ANCIENT & MODERN by Billing 1867 For Sale

Offered here for sale is a very good copy of a rare work titled,THE SCIENCE OF GEMS, JEWELS, COINS, AND METALS, ANCIENT & MODERN by Archibald Billing. London: Bell & Daldy 1st ed, 1867 . 9" X 6", pp xi + 221 + 2 with 18 tipped in b&w photos; original gilt decorated blue cloth with beveled edges; actual photo of engraved gem is tipped onto front cover; all edges gilt. Some minor offsetting of images else very good. Not ex-library. "It is impossible to briefly describe the scope of this captivating mélange touching on such diverse topics as gemology, mineralogy, geology, lapidary work, gem engraving, engravers of gems, history of the art, dying of agates, falsifications, copies of famous gems, etc. This first edition is the only one employing actual photographic prints (by F. Cole) as illustrations and should be counted as an incunabulum of gemological books so illustrated". (Sinkankas #641)
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