Realgar - significant USA specimen

Item Description

A stunning and important specimen of realgar, which is actually a very rare crystallized mineral species worldwide. This is the most important USA locality, and specimens are old, classic, and hard to come by. This was collected by the legendary field collector and Washington specialist, Bob Jackson, in the heyday here of the 1970s. He sold it to Mike Groben in 1979 (for $500 discounted to 350!), who kept it until he sold circa 2010 (and you can see his appraisal a the time was $10,000). This was then purchased by the museum, as the Rice tried to maintain an important Northwest collection. However, realgar cannot be displayed, as light will eventually cause it to lose color and quality. Kept in a box, as you can see here since it has been preserved since the 1970s, it is going to last a long time. Because it cannot go on exhibit, the museum has chosen to let it go by auction to a new home, where it can be appreciated (while in a box, kept safely out of light). This is a highly significant USA mineral specimen of rare cabinet size and museum level quality.