Shakespeare and Precious Stones

Shakespeare and Precious Stones

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George Frederick Kunz
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Title: Shakespeare and Precious Stones Treating of the Known
References of Precious Stones in Shakespeare's Works, with Comments
as to the Origin of His Material, the Knowledge of the Poet Concerning
Precious Stones, and References as to Where the Precious Stones of
His Time Came from
Author: George Frederick Kunz

Release Date: June 13, 2005 [eBook #16055]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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SHAKESPEARE AND PRECIOUS STONES***
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SHAKESPEARE AND PRECIOUS STONES
by
GEORGE FREDERICK KUNZ, Ph.D., A.M., D.Sc.

* * * * *

THE CURIOUS LORE OF PRECIOUS STONES
Being a description of their sentiments and folklore, superstitions,
symbolism, mysticism, use in protection, prevention, religion and
divination, crystal gazing, birth-stones, lucky stones and talismans,
astral, zodiacal, and planetary.
THE MAGIC OF JEWELS AND CHARMS
Magic jewels and electric gems; meteorites or celestial stones; stones of
healing; fabulous stones, concretions and fossils; snake stones and
bezoars; charms of ancient and modern times; facts and fancies about
precious stones.
EACH: Profusely illustrated in color, doubletone and line. Octavo.
Handsome cloth binding, gilt top, in a box. $6.00 net. Carriage charges
extra.
SHAKESPEARE AND PRECIOUS STONES
Treating of the known references to precious stones in Shakespeare's
works, with comments as to the origin of his material, the knowledge of
the poet concerning precious stones and references as to where the
precious stones of his time came from.
Four illustrations. Square Octavo. Decorated cloth. $1.25 net.
MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARES COMEDIES, HISTORIES, &
TRAGEDIES
Published according to the True Originall Copies

[Illustration: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Engraved by Martin Droeshout for the First Folio of 1623, wherein the
plays were first assembled. Reproduced from a copy of this Folio
owned by the New York Public Library. The original measures 7-1/2 x

13 in., or 20 x 33 cm.]
LONDON
Printed by Isaac Laggard, and Ed. Blount. 1623.

* * * * *

SHAKESPEARE AND PRECIOUS STONES
Treating of The Known References of Precious Stones in Shakespeare's
Works, with Comments as to the Origin of His Material, the
Knowledge of the Poet Concerning Precious Stones, and References as
to Where the Precious Stones of His Time Came from
The Author
GEORGE FREDERICK KUNZ PH.D., Sc.D., A.M.
Honorary President of the Shakespeare Garden Committee of New
York City; Vice President of the Permanent Shakespeare Birthday
Committee of the City of New York; Member of the Executive
Committee of the New York City Tercentenary Celebration; Member
of the Mayor's Shakespeare Celebration Committee of New York.
With Illustrations
Philadelphia & London Imprinted By J.B. Lippincott Company At the
Washington Square Press Upon the Tercentenary of Shakespeare
1916

TO RUBY, MY DAUGHTER, WHOSE MOTHER, SOPHIA
HANDFORTH WAS BORN IN THE LAND OF
SHAKESPEARE,
AND
TO RUBY'S DAUGHTER, GRETEL, (THE PEARL), THIS
VOLUME IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED

FOREWORD
As no writer has made a more beautiful and telling use of precious
stones in his verse than did Shakespeare, the author believed that if
these references could be gathered together for comparison and for
quotation, and if this were done from authentic and early editions of the
great dramatist-poet's works, it would give the literary and historical

student a better understanding as to what gems were used in
Shakespeare's time, and in what terms he referred to them. This has
been done here, and comparisons are made with the precious stones of
the present time, showing what mines were known and gems were
worn in Shakespeare's day, and also something of those that were not
known then, but are known at this time.
The reader is also provided with a few important data serving to show
what could have been the sources of the poet's knowledge regarding
precious stones and whence were derived those which he may have
seen or of which he may have heard. As in this period the beauty of a
jewel depended as much, or more, upon the elaborate setting as upon
the purity and brilliancy of the gems, the author has given some
information regarding the leading goldsmith-jewellers, both English