Galena

Unknown Owner

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This incredible old German galena is a significant piece even without pedigree (more on that later). It features textbook, 3-dimensional, lustrous, bright crystals of galena from the single most famous locale in the world for the species as far as most historians are concerned. Neudorf set the standard for 300 years. Good specimens, and specimens of large size in particular, are phenomenally rare today and I am told must be at least 150 years old. This is a dramatic cluster of intergrown crystals. This impressive large specimen has Carl Bosch's original backed vellum label from the late 1800's, embossed with gold print, indicating that it was in his personal exhibit cases and not "in the drawers." Very few specimens had this high honor, of being exhibited in the home of this most prominent collector of the late 1800s! Very few specimens today remain associated with such labels, given the movements of the pieces over time in and out of the Smithsonian. It was exchanged from the Smithsonian by Bill Pinch, who kept it til exchanging it to me recently. 9 x 6.9 x 3.4 cm