Boleite (set, including one from 1892, ex Cumenge!)

Item Description

This is a cute little set of 4 small but extremely sharp boleite crystals but there is more to say than that! This is the type lcoality, and crystals were found in the 1890s by Cumenge and sent back to Europe where they were put in the vaults of both the London and Paris Museums....and one of these is from that expedition! Three of these are from the 1970s finds here by Swoboda and Larson, and the one (5mm on edge, shown separately or on the right in the group photo) with modified corners is from the older expedition to this site rediscovered and worked nearly 100 years later. Jack actually bought each one of these four separately from a different dealer if you can believe it, and so each has his number painted on the bottom in the tiniest labeling print I have ever seen him accomplish to add his number to a specimen's legacy! Jack kept all four crystals together on a little pedestal, loving the sharp symmetry of the cubes next to each other. They range from 4 to 7 mm on edge. We are truly honored to present this specimen from another lot of deaccessions from the collection of Jack Halpern of San Francisco, as featured in the Mineralogical Record, March 2005. Note the amazing old labels that go with the oldest of the four, which are perhaps worth as much and more than the other three specimens, as I would buy the lot just for the old classic and consider the others to be gifts along for the ride! I love the history on this crystal! Note as a bonus the old label from Foote noting a date of September 1892, and he must have gotten it from Cumenge to sell to the BMNH ! This is crazy history.