Apatite with Quartz ex Gunnell, Halpern

Item Description

This large display sized specimen of apatite is an important American classic specimen from the early 1900s era of Maine mineral exploration, long a classic of any sophisticated East Coast collection. Purple apatite is rare in any case, and this is one of the richest examples we have seen from Maine, probably of early 1910s or 1920s extraction. It was purchased by E Mitch Gunnell for his personal collection - one of the best USA collections ever put together- in 1951, by his loyal scout, David Seaman. Gunnell had some of the best labels around , and the detail is wonderful! the numbering also matches his number glued to the bottom of the specimen alongside Jack Halpern's. Jack purchased minerals based on Beauty First, as he would say! He bought this NOT because it was an old important classic, but simply because it was beautiful - and, it is. Sparkly, with a pleasing pastel purple color not too dark nor too light, it really sort of glows on a shelf with a special color, not common in minerals. No damage, aesthetic, large size, provenance..it has all you could want in one of these. We believe a $5-10k value range is fair on this, although broad, depending on how many folks appreciate the impeccable provenance and fine display quality together in the specimen. (scroll right to see the photos of labels)