The Curious Lore of Precious Stones

The subtitle of this fascinating book provides an excellent summary of the contents therein: “being a description of their sentiments and folklore, superstitions, symbolism, mysticism, use in medicine, protection, prevention, religion, and divination; crystal gazing, birthstones, luckystones and talismans, astral, zodiacal, and planetary.” Curious Lore analyzes all of these topics related to humankind’s interaction with gems, detailing the sources and meanings and history, the fantastical and the everyday. In the Preface, the author comments that the natural beauty of precious stones, combined with their durability, have caused millennia of emotion and inspiration. He generously illustrates his story in black-and-white, with a smattering of color plates.