The Magic of Jewels and Charms * George Frederick Kunz

An exhaustive, beautifully illustrated historical masterpiece that compiles centuries of global folklore, royal superstitions, and indigenous myths regarding the magical properties, healing virtues, and protective powers attributed to precious gems and talismans.

The Story: Written by prominent gemologist, mineralogist, and legendary Tiffany & Co. vice president Dr. George Frederick Kunz, this monumental academic study transforms historical lapidary lore into an exceptionally deep research workspace. Kunz completely shatters the barrier separating cold, modern mineral science from rich historical mythology. Instead, he establishes an uncompromising, data-dense ledger that treats the global history of amulets down to its exact cultural parameters and geographic tracking lines.The handbook guides history and design enthusiasts step-by-step through a versatile landscape of ancient and medieval traditions. Kunz utilizes a comprehensive analytical diagnostic toolkit to parse how diverse civilizations across Egypt, Rome, India, and Native America utilized specific stone configurations. The text details the precise material logistics behind historic talismans—explaining how meteorites, fossilized teeth, carved jade, and rare stones functioned as an active protective shield against disease, malevolent spirits, and battlefield trauma under strict astrological alignments.Rather than a shallow modern summary, the book explores authentic historical records of famous royal collections, cursing diamonds, and snake-stone remedies. This high-quality 1997 Dover Publications paperback functions as an unabridged, durable preservation shield over Kunz's original 1915 masterwork. It features all of the author's meticulous cross-references and dozens of rare historical illustration plates, instructing the analytical mind on the absolute evolution of human belief and turning any gemology or history library shelf into a profound sanctuary of world heritage.

Perfect For: Gemologists, jewelers, and cultural anthropologists looking for a primary-source-dense textbook on historical amulet lore; readers interested in the history of medicine and alternative therapies; and book collectors seeking the classic, definitive Dover reissues of George Frederick Kunz's works.

First Published 1915. This Edition 1997 by Dover Publications