This is a beautiful Little book - UNDERGROUND TREASURES, HOW AND WHERE TO FIND THEM by James Orton. Henry Carey Baird & Co.,, Philadelphia, 1915. Original cloth
with richly gilt spine, gilt decorative title vignette stamped on front
cover, the same in blind on the back cover. Frontispiece of a gold
digger prospecting the land, engraved title with color printed gold
nugget, 4 full-page wood engraved plates, the text of all pages enclosed
in double-rule frame. Much enlarged edition of this
rare and enthusiastically written treatise on the underground treasures
by James Orton (1830-1877). The first edition had appeared in 1872.
Further editions were published in 1881, 1887, 1901, 1908 and 1922. book
was composed to furnish would-be prospectors with the knowledge
necessary to insure success in seeking minerals, ores and gemstones, and
how to recognize them when found. There are chapters on gemstones with
descriptions of the species and on hunting diamonds. Stangely enough
there is also a chapter on artificial gems, telling how top distinguish
them, ansd even more curiously, how to make them! It is an attractively
decorated book filled with sometimes strange information, characteristic
for the feverish time of the great gold rush.
There are a 3 pages with small tears & 1 of the illustrations has part torn off. The gilt is bright on the spine. Corners are bumped. All in all, the condition of this book is very good.