Pyromorphite (circa late-1800s)

Item Description

Wheatley produced lead for the US Civil War, and it produced mineral specimens for Charles Wheatley, its owner. He collected many himself, and traded them far and wide to major collections and museums in the US and Europe. This is a very large specimen that clearly (by its leathery old label) dates to the very era when the mine was in its active production, in the mid to late 1800s. It is the classic style regarded as the most important historical pyromorphite style, for the USA. Importantly, FEW large display-quality and cabinet sized specimens have survived - and this one is a large piece with a large display face as well. Although there is some very minor bruising to some crystals, the majority of the display face is intact, and in terms of coverage area this is simply one of the richer specimens you will see, with theprovenance of the label as a bonus. From the historic USA suite of the George Elling collection, this is valued at $2500