A landmark in the study of pearls and gemology, this first edition, first printing of The Book of the Pearl (The Century Co., New York, 1908) is a rare and important volume. This special first printing, issued in the gilt-decorated green cloth binding, was reserved for contributors and key figures involved in the making of the book.
This copy is personally inscribed by George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany & Co.’s legendary chief gemologist, to Ten Broeck Morse, Esq., a master jeweler at Tiffany & Co., dated October 7, 1908. The association between Kunz and Morse makes this a highly significant piece of Tiffany & Co. and jewelry history.
Details & Condition
Publisher: The Century Co., New York, 1908
Binding: Gilt-decorated green cloth boards
Pages: 548pp, richly illustrated with color plates, photographs, and scientific charts
Provenance: Inscribed by George F. Kunz to Ten Broeck Morse
Condition: Spine loose but attached; gilt cover with edge and corner wear, light staining on rear; pages toned with age; deckled edges; tri-fold multi-strand pearl illustration detached but present
Significance
Kunz, one of the foremost gemologists of his era, shaped Tiffany’s reputation as a leader in fine gemstones and pearls. This copy, inscribed to a fellow Tiffany master jeweler, is not just a book but a piece of American jewelry heritage.