Rhodochrosite (ex Willard Wulff Collection)

Item Description

An OLD TIME Rhodo from the Sweet Home Mine, long predating collecting from Collector's Edge, or even the productive efforts by Richard Kosnar and Dave Bergman in the 1970s. More than likely the piece was discovered (possibly on the dumps) during the 1940s-1950s. The collection number is #309, which means it was an early entry into Wulff's collection. Willard W. Wulff (1904-1998) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was a prominent figure and collector of Colorado minerals. Wulff was one of the founding members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society in 1936, so this Rhodo was easily entered into his collection at a time prior to any serious mining projects at the Sweet Home. You can read Willard's bio on the Mineralogical Record website here ( http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=1528 ). The piece comes with a typed label from Wulff on the bottom of the "Perky" Box in which it's mounted. It's not necessarilly a world class Rhodochrosite, and it's not 100% complete, but it's great old time capsule that gives a glimpse into what the specimens from this locality looked like approximately 70 years ago. A sharp, well-formed, good red color rhombohedron like this goes for good money these days on the market.