The Romance of the Jewel 1920 Francis Stopford for Mappin & Webb, London ~ history and lore of precious stones in jewelry/jewellery

Title: The Romance of the Jewel

Author: Francis Stopford

Description: Quarter binding with ornately framed peacock pictorial on top board, stamped in powder blue, green and gilt. Spine in brown leather with gilt lettering. Front cover has vellum or vellum-like surface, rear cover is papered. All edges gilt. Volume is edge-worn; rear cover soiled. Scattered foxing throughout; occasional soiling (the worst is on the list-of-illustrations page). Unmarked. Illustrations on 22 plates (15 in color), tissue guards with printed descriptions. 96 pages. 11 x 8.5 inches.

An uncommon copy of this illustrated account of the art of the jeweller and the lore and history fine jewels and precious stones from around the world. Privately printed by the English jewellery company Mappin & Webb. Patrons of the company have included Queen of France Marie-Antoinette, the Empress of Russia, Princess Grace of Monaco, and several British monarchs, including Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II and Charles III. The volume was produced in consultation with H. Clifford Smith (1876-1960) of the Victoria and Albert Museum.


Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good

Publisher: Printed for Private Circulation and Published at 158-162, Oxford Street [Mappin & Webb]
Place: London
Year: 1920

Keywords: pictorial, fine jewellery, fine jewelry, diamonds, precious stones, history, lore, H. Clifford Smith,