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The finest diamond owned by Austria is the Grand-duke of Tuscany. It is a little yellow, and is cut to represent a star of nine rays. Fig. 48.
This diamond belonged to Charles the Bold, who lost it at the battle of Granson. Found by a soldier, it was sold by a Genoese merchant to Ludovic Sforza, duke of Milan. It became afterwards the property of Pope Julius II., who presented it to the Emperor of Austria. It weighs 139 1/2 carats.
Egypt possesses a very beautiful brilliant of 40 carats, which bears the name of the Pasha of Egypt. It cost $136,200. Fig. 49.
In Holland there is a diamond of 36 carats, estimated at $48360; and one in the treasury of Dresden that weighs 31 1/4 carats.
A black diamond was sold by M. Bapst to Louis XVIII. for the sum of $4464, but it was never delivered. Its colour was a very dark brown, and it had a remarkable lustre.
A precious stone without a rival is the blue diamond of Mr. Hope. Its weight is 44 1/8 carats, and its colour is the blue of the most beautiful sapphire, added to an adamantine lustre of the utmost brilliancy. It was purchased for $83,700, but competent judges declare that it is worth more. Fig 50. |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 2
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