Reference Books on Gemology, Jewelry and Mineralogy

A curated list of the most important reference books on gems, gemology, jewelry, mineralogy and allied fields aimed at gemologists, book collectors and researchers.

An excellent place to begin collecting books about gems and minerals is with these two volumes published by Wendell Wilson of the Mineralogical Record in 1994–95. The versions shown here are the special hardcover editions in faux leather (they were originally issued in softcover format). One volume covers the history of mineral collecting and the other deals with the most important and collectable literature on the same.

Why should [a collector] divide his time and money by taking on a second major field of collecting? I can only answer by pointing out that when we admire a new specimen, the sensuous aesthetic pleasure and the intellectual stimulation we feel are simply the consequence of our eyes and hands taking in information about that [piece]. But there is a limit to what we can take in on our own, with just ourselves and the specimen. We can break through that barrier with books, so as to be able to take in the vast amount of data gathered by others and thereby continue the pleasurable process. And in doing so we extend our horizon to include the culture of [these objects], a step which humanizes the whole experience.

– Wendell E. Wilson, 1995
Mineral Books: Five centuries of mineralogical literature

Auction Catalogs

• Christie’s (1987) The Gill Collection of Historical Gem Books (Part 1). New York: Christie’s, 21 October, Sale 6458, 48 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (1987) Important Jewels [contains Part 2 of the Gill Historical Gem Book Collection]. 1–2 December, New York: Christie’s, Sale 6524, 308 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (1988) Magnificent Jewels [includes Part 3 of the Joseph Gill book collection]. New York: Christie’s, 20 April, 226 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (1988) Important Jewels [contains Part 4 of the Joseph Gill book collection]. New York: Christie’s, 7 June, Sale 6624, 243 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (1996) An Important Private Collection of Gem and Jewelry Books. New York: Christie’s, 15 April, Sale 8396, 66 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (1997) The Théodore Horovitz Library. Geneva: Christie’s, 18 November, Sale 1239, 46 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (1999) The Treasure of Siam | From a Single Private Collection. Bangkok: Christie’s, 7 August, Sale 9991, 108 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (2000) Siamese Impressions. Bangkok: Christie’s, 30 July, Sale 7201, 134 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (2001) Arts of India. London: Christie’s, 27 September, 210 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (2010) For the Enjoyment of Scholars: Selections from the Robert H. Blumenfield Collection. New York: Christie’s, 25 March, JENRO-2391, 149 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (2011) Rare Classical Artwork Books. Beijing: Christie’s, 15 November, 123 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (2012) In the Pursuit of Knowledge: Asian Art Reference Books Including Selections From the C.T. Loo Library. Sale 2763, 13 September, New York: Christie’s, 107 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (2012) Auspicious Treasures for Scholars and Emperors • Selections from the Robert H. Blumenfield Collection. New York: Christie’s, 22 March, Sale 2648, 191 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (2013) Studying the Past: The Hanshan Tang Reserve Collection. London: Christie’s, 14 May, 91 pp.; RWHL.
• Pacific Book Auction Galleries (1999) The Library of Clifford J. Ewald • Mineralogy • Science • The Arts • Fine & Rare Books. San Francisco: Pacific Book Auction Galleries, 23 September, unpaginated, 420 lots; RWHL.
• Sotheby’s (2001) The Magnificent Scientific Library of Joseph A. Freilich. New York: Sotheby’s, 10–11 January, Sale 7585, 478 pp.; RWHL*.
• Sotheby’s (2016) China in Print and on Paper. London: Sotheby’s, 7 November, Cat. L16409, 148 pp.; RWHL.
• Swann Galleries (1994) The Karl Krotki Library of Gemology & Mineralogy. New York: Swann Galleries, 8 December, unpaginated, 347 lots; RWHL.
• Swann Galleries (2003) Books on Gems and Jewelry: The Henry Polissack Library, Part 1. New York: Swann Galleries, 20 March, unpaginated; 307 lots; RWHL*.
• Swann Galleries (2003) Books on Gems and Jewelry: The Henry Polissack Library, Part 2. New York: Swann Galleries 27 May, unpaginated; 250 lots; RWHL*.

Every few years a collection of gem/jewelry/mineral books comes up at auction. The catalogs, such as the two shown above from the 1990s Ewald and Krotki sales, are useful to better understand the market and prices being paid, as well as the rarity of certain items.

Bibliographies

• Besterman, T. (1975) A World Bibliography of Oriental Bibliographies. Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Littlefield, 5th ed., 727 columns; RWHL.
• Content, D.J. (1985) Glyptic Arts | Ancient Jewelry | An Annotated Bibliography. Houlton, ME: Crow Hill, 158 pp.; RWHL*.
• Cordier, H. (1912) Bibliotheca Indosinica. good, Ed. Paris: Publications de L’École Française d’Extrême-Orient, 2 Vols., Vol. 1 (Burma, Assam, Siam, Laos), reprinted by Burt Franklin, NY, 1967, 1104 pp.; RWHL*.
• Cox, E.G. (1935–41) A Reference Guide to the Literature of Travel: Including Voyages, Geographical Descriptions, Adventures, Shipwrecks and Expeditions. Seattle: University of Washington, 3 Vols., reprinted 1992 by Maurizio Martino, Cambridge, MA, 404, 591, 732 pp.; RWHL*.
• Denman, C. (1945) Jade, A Comprehensive Bibliography. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 65, No. 2, April–June, pp. 117–126; RWHL*.
• Grayson, R.F. (2017) Lapis Lazuli Through Time and Space | The World List. 16 pp.; unpublished report; RWHL*.
• Goossens, P.J. (1978) Earth Sciences Bibliography of Burma, Yunnan, and Andaman Islands. In Third Regional Conference on the Geology and Mineral Resources of Southeast Asia, ed., Bangkok, pp. 495–536; RWHL.
• Johns, F.A. (1952) Some bibliographical material additional to Carolyn Denman’s “Jade: A Comprehensive Bibliography”. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 72, No. 3, pp. 111–112; RWHL.
• Kuhner, D. and Rizzo, T. (1980) The Herbert Clark Hoover Collection of Mining & Metallurgy: Bibliotheca De Re Metallica. Claremont, CA: Libraries of the Claremont Colleges, limited edition, 219 pp.; RWHL.
• La Touche, T.H.D. (1917) A Bibliography of Indian Geology and Physical Geography with an Annotated Index of Minerals of Economic Value. Calcutta: Office of the Geological Survey of India, 571 pp.; RWHL*.
• Oldham, R.D. (1888) A Bibliography of Indian Geology. Calcutta: Geological Survey of India, 145 pp.; RWHL.
• Sinkankas, J. (1991) Bibliography of Jade. In Jade, Keverne, R., ed., New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, pp. 356–367; RWHL*.
• Sun, L. (1997) Chinese Historical Sources on Burma: A Bibliography of Primary and Secondary Works. Journal of Burma Studies, Vol. 2, Special Issue, pp. 1–116; RWHL*.
• Vanderstappen, H.A. (1975) The T.L. Yuan Bibliography of Western Writings on Chinese Art and Archaeology. London, Mansell, 606 pp.; RWHL.
• Ward, D.C. and Carozzi, A.V. (1984) Geology Emerging | A Catalog Illustrating the History of Geology (1500-1850) from a Collection in the Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Urbana-Champaign: University of Illinois, 565 pp.; RWHL*.
• Westwood, A. (1914) Catalogue of the Books in the Library at the Assay Office Birmingham. London: Chiswick Press, 309 pp.; RWHL*.
• Yang, J. (1982) Zhongguo Guyu Shumu [Bibliography of Ancient Chinese Jade]. [in Chinese and English], Hong Kong, Center for Chinese Archeology Art, Institute on Chinese Culture, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 141 pp.; RWHL*.
• Zhao, C. (2004) Zhongguo Guyu Yanjiu Wenxian Zhinan 中国古玉硏究文献指南 [A Guide to Research Literatures on Chinese Ancient Jades]. [in Chinese], Beijing, Kexue Chubanshe, 362 pp.; RWHL.

The first step in any new research project is a literature search and the foundation of literature searches are bibliographies. Having such a range of references at your fingertips is invaluable in exploring any new subject.

Book Collecting

• Allen, N. (2003) Pearls of the Orient: Asian Treasures from the Wellcome Library. Chicago: Serindia Publications, 216 pp.; RWHL.
• Basbanes, N.A. (1995) A Gentle Madness | Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books. New York: Henry Holt, 638 pp.; RWHL*.
• Carter, J. (1952) ABC for Book Collectors. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press, 7th ed., 224 pp.; RWHL.
• Ellis, E., Seebohm, C. and Sykes, C.S. (1995) At Home With Books. London: Thames & Hudson, 248 pp.; RWHL*.
• Freudenberger, N. Biblio•Style: How We Live at Home with Books. London: Hardie Grant Books, 272 pp.; RWHL.
• Jordan-Smith, P. (1934) For the Love of Books | The Adventures of an Impecunious Collector. New York: Oxford University Press, 306 pp.; RWHL.
• Kindersley, D. (2017) Remarkable Books | A Celebration of the World’s Most Beautiful and Historic Works. 256 pp.; RWHL*.
• Pettegree, A. and Weduwen, A., der (2021) The Library | A Fragile History. New York: Basic Books, 518 pp.; RWHL.
• Terrell, H. (2021) The Personal Librarian. New York: Berkley, 352 pp.; RWHL*.
• Thomas, A.G. (1975) Great Books and Book Collectors. New York: Excalibur Books, 1st American edition, 280 pp.; RWHL.

Dictionaries/Glossaries

• Carvalho, R.G., de (2024) Gempedia | A Comprehensive Glossary for Gemstones and Gemology. Bangkok: AIGS, 719 pp.; RWHL*.
• Chikayama, A. (2013) Dictionary of Gemstones & Jewelry. Translated by Gill, S.H., Tokyo: IMACBC Co., 1st English edition, 652 pp.; RWHL*.
• Chou, M., [周志仁著], (1987) Dictionary of Jade Nomenclature [“玉”名稱辭典]. [in English and Chinese], Hong Kong: privately published, 150 pp.; RWHL*.
• Hansford, S.H. (1954) A Glossary of Chinese Art and Archælogy. China Society Sinological Series No. 4, London: China Society, 104 pp.; RWHL.
• Na, C.-L., [那志良] (1982) 玉器辞典 – Dictionary of Chinese Jade. [in Chinese], Taipei: Wen wen chu ban she, 2 Vols., 456, 391 pp.; RWHL*.
• Shipley, R.M. (1971) Dictionary of Gems and Gemology. good, Ed. Los Angeles: GIA, 6th ed., 230 pp.; RWHL.

The book collections of London bookseller Hanshan Tang and famous Chinese art dealer C.T. Loo were sold by Christie's at auction. Each contained a number of rare and valuable items concerning the Chinese arts, including jade, jewelry, amber, ivory and much more.

General Literature Surveys

• Adams, F.D. (1938) The Birth and Development of the Geological Sciences. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 506 pp.; RWHL*.
• Anonymous (1784) Verzeichniss, systematisches, aller deijenigen Schriften, welche die Naturgeschichte betreffen. [A Systematic Catalog of all those Writings that Concern Natural History]. [in German], Halle: Johann Christian Hendel, 446 pp.
• Boehmer, G.-R. (1785–89) Bibliotheca scriptorum historiae naturalis. [Library of Writers on Natural History]. [in Latin], Leipzig: Johann Friedrich Junius, Parts I–IV in 2 Vols., Part V in 1 Vol., 778 pp.; RWHL*.
• Bohm, J. (1985) The history of crystal growth. Acta Physica Hungarica, Vol. 57, No. 3–4, pp. 161–178; RWHL*.
• Bromehead, C.E.N. (1945) Geology in Embryo (up to 1600 A.D.). Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, Vol. 56, Pt. 2, pp. 89–134; RWHL.
• Brunet, J.-C. (1860–65) Manuel du libraire et de l’amateur de livres. [Manual for the Bookseller and the Book Lover]. [in French], Paris: Brunet, Vols. 1–6; RWHL.
• Chennault, C.L., Knapp, K.N., Berkowitz, A.J. and Dien, A.E., ed. (2015) Early Chinese Medieval Texts | A Bibliographic Guide. China Research Monograph 71, Berkeley, CA: Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, 546 pp.; RWHL.
• Cobres, J.P. (1782) Deliciae Cobresianiae: Büchersammlung zur Naturgeschichte. [Delights of Cobresiana: Book Collection on Natural History]. [in German], Augsburg: self published, 2 Vols., 957 pp.
• Feigelson, R.S. (2015) Crystal growth through the ages: A historical perspective. In Handbook of Crystal Growth, Vol. 1 | Fundamentals: Thermodynamics and Kinetics, and Transport and Stability, pp. 1–83; RWHL*.
• Fischer, H. and Hughes, R.W. (2025) Nephrite and Jadeite. Bangkok: Lotus Publishing, 638 pp.; RWHL*.
• Gatterer, C.W.J. (1798–90) Allgemeines Repertorium der mineralogischen, bergwerks- und salzwerkswissenschaftlichen Litteratur. [General Repertory of Mineralogical, Mining, and Salt Works Literature]. [in German], Giessen: Georg Friedrich Heyer, 2 Vols., 318 pp.; RWHL*.
• Jöcher, Christian Gottlieb (1750–51) Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexicon 1–4 [General Lexicon of Scholars]. Theil. Leipzig 1750–51. 4. — Fortsetzungen und Ergänzungen dazu von Joh. Christ Adelung [Continuations and Additions by Johann Christoph Adelung]. Leipzig. 1784–87. 4. 2 Vols. — see also von Heinrich Wilhelm Rothermund. 3.-6. Vol. Delmenhorst, Bremen. 1810–22.
• Ledoux, C.N. (2015) Liste des Publications Réalisées dans le Cadre du Projet Jade [29.11.2015]. Maison des Sciences de l’Homme et de l’Environnement, accessed 11 February 2024; RWHL*.
• Loewe, M. (1993) Early Chinese Texts | A Bibliographical Guide. Early China Special Monograph Series No. 2, Berkeley, CA: Society for the Study of Early China, 546 pp.; RWHL*.
• Merk, R. (2002) A survey of jade literature. Bulletin of the Friends of Jade, Vol. 10, pp. 179–182; RWHL.
• Moore, N.F. (1834) Ancient Mineralogy. New York: G. & C. Carville & Co., 192 pp.; RWHL.
• Na, C.-L., [那志良] (1983) Preface to collected illustrated works on ancient jade. Bulletin of the Friends of Jade, Vol. 3, (Trans. by Frances Wood), pp. 58–62; RWHL.
• Schuh, C.P. (2007) Mineralogy & Crystallography: On the history of these sciences from the beginnings through 1919. Tucson: self-published, unpublished manuscript, 406 pp.; RWHL*.
• Thorndike, L. (1923–1958) A History of Magic and Experimental Science. New York: Macmillan Co., 8 Vols., Reprinted, Vol. 1, pp. 775–782; Vol. 2, pp. 246–278 (Pseudo–Aristotle); Vol. 7, pp. 241–271; RWHL*.
• Wallerius, J.G. (1779) Brevis Introductio In Historiam Litterariam Mineralogicam Atque Methodum Systemata Mineralogica Rite Condenda. [A Brief Introduction to the Literary History of Mineralogy and the Method for Properly Establishing Mineralogical Systems]. [in Latin], Stockholm: M. Sweder, 194 pp.
• Wilson, W.E. (1994) The History of Mineral Collecting, 1530–1799. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 25, No. 6, November–December, 264 pp.; RWHL*.
• Wilson, W., editor (1995) Mineral Books: Five Centuries of Mineralogical Literature. Mineralogical Record, No. 4, July–August, Tucson, AZ: Mineralogical Record, Vol. 26, 192 pp.; RWHL*.

Indexes

• Gill, J.O. (1978) Gill’s Index to Journals, Articles and Books Relating to Gems and Jewelry. Santa Monica, CA: Gemological Institute of America, 420 pp.; RWHL.
• Journal of Gemmology Cumulative Index and Bibliographies
• Lapidary Journal (1992) The Lapidary Journal Index: 1947–1991. San Diego: Lapidary Journal Press, 433 pp.; RWHL*.
• Mineralogical Record (1985) The Mineralogical Record Index: 1970–1983. Livermore, CA: Friends of Mineralogy, 246 pp.; RWHL.

Why collect books? Behold a shelf of books combining the thoughts of human beings over several centuries. Only our species has this ability, a form of immortality, and it exists through the written word. Books allow us to experience the lives of others long after they have passed on.

About the author

Richard W. Hughes is one of the world’s foremost experts on ruby and sapphire. The author of many books and over 170 articles, his writings and photographs have appeared in a diverse range of publications, and he has received numerous industry awards. Co-winner of the 2004 Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award from Gems & Gemology magazine, the following year he was awarded a Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award from the American Gem Society. In 2010, he received the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association. The Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG) in 2013 named Richard as one of the Fifty most important figures that have shaped the history of gems since antiquity. In 2016, Richard was awarded a visiting professorship at Shanghai's Tongji University. 2017 saw the publication of Richard and his wife and daughter's Ruby & Sapphire • A Gemologist's Guide, arguably the most complete book ever published on a single gem species and the culmination of four decades of work in gemology. In 2018, Richard was named Photographer of the Year by the Gem-A, recognizing his photo of a jade-trading market in China, while in 2020, he was elected to the board of directors of the Accredited Gemologists Association and was appointed to the editorial review board of Gems & Gemology and The Australian Gemmologist magazine. In 2022, Richard published Jade • A Gemologist's Guide, while 2024 brought Broken Bangle • The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature. His jade trilogy was completed in 2025 with his translation of Heinrich Fischer's Nephrite and Jadeite.