2010 January Signature Natural History Auction

MANCHURIAN SIKA DEER SHOULDER MOUNT
Cervus nippon mantchuricus
The Manchurian Sika Deer is the largest-bodied Sika Deer, and also boasts the largest antlers of the species. These Deer look very similar to a miniature Elk with faint spotting on their sides. The present example measures 47¼ inches in height from the bottom of his brisket to the antler tips, 24¼ inches wide and 29½ inches from the wall to the end of the nose. It is presented in a handsome alert-looking pose, with above average taxidermy.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MULE DEER SHOULDER MOUNT
Odocoileus hemionus hemionus
This big Buck was taken near Gunnison Colorado. He sports a nice 6 x 5 rack that measures 23¾ inches wide on the outside spread. Big Mule Deer Bucks are becoming increasingly harder to find; they need more open range and privacy than the White-tail Deer and the advancement of civilization is slowly taking its toll on them. The antlers and skull plate of this handsome mount are in excellent condition and it has been well prepared with a lifelike look, 37 inches high, 22 inches wide and 27 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose.

PAIR OF SOUTHERN IMPALA PEDESTAL SHOULDER MOUNTS
Aepyceros melampus melampus
The Impala is the world's greatest jumper, elegant, graceful, and able to leap over 30 feet in a single bound. The Southern Impala is smaller in body and lighter in color than the East African race of Impala and are a Sportsman's favorite, quite plentiful throughout South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. These are beautiful mounts with excellent quality taxidermy and horns that measure 22 x 19½ and 19¾ x 18 5/8 inches long. They are mounted either side of a simulated tree trunk with fern, atop a hexagonal wooden base with panels laid with Impala hide; the pedestal is 18 1/8 inches wide and the whole impressive display stands 82¼ inches high.

BLACK LECHWE PEDESTAL SHOULDER MOUNT
Kobus leche smithemani
The Black Lechwe is only found in the Bangweulu swamp in Zambia. It is one of the world's most beautiful animals. Their legs are coated in a water-repelling substance that allows them to run fast whilst knee-deep in water, which together with their marshy habitat means finding a trophy male such as this one can be extremely difficult. The horns on this trophy Bull are 22 3/8 x 22¼ inches long and the bases are 6¾ inches around each one. The mount stands six feet tall and the wooden pedestal measures 17 x 17 inches. The taxidermy quality of the mount is outstanding and the pose is very natural and life-like.

RECORD-CLASS SPANISH RED STAG SHOULDER MOUNT
Cervus elaphus hispanicus
This is a huge 21-point Record Book Red Stag from Spain. This subspecies of Red Deer has a slightly lighter body than the better-known German Stags, and are distinctive in that they lack the characteristic neck manes. This Bull was taken in his native Spain and expertly mounted with removable antlers for easy shipping and hanging. The mount is 53¾ inches tall from the brisket to antler tips, 37¾ inches wide and projects 23 inches from wall to nose, with a very majestic look and a wonderful lifelike pose.

CORSICAN RAM SHOULDER MOUNT
Ovis Corsica
Originating in the West Indies, the Corsican Ram is one of the world's most beautiful sheep and is probably the most commonly hunted exotic animal in the U.S. This example is a large Ram with trophy class sized horns, 31 5/8 x 30¾ inches around the curls with bases 9 x 8¾ inches around. It has a beautifully colored cape and a nice beard and the taxidermy quality of the mount is excellent, measuring 27 inches high, 17 inches wide and 20 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose.

EUROPEAN MOUFLON RAM SHOULDER MOUNT
Ovis gmelini musimon
The European Mouflon Ram is the smallest-bodied of all the world's true wild Sheep. Its horns appear heart-shaped from the front and those on the present example measure 29 x 28 5/8 inches long around the curls and 8¾ inches around the bases. It is a mature animal taken in Spain and the taxidermy displays superior quality workmanship. This Ram will make a lovely display, measuring 18 inches wide, 22¾ inches from the top of the horns to the brisket, and standing 15¼ inches from the wall.

ALASKAN DALL SHEEP SHOULDER MOUNT
Ovis dalli
The Dall Sheep is a true wild Sheep of North America, and one of its most coveted trophies. They are an off-white color with amber hoofs and horns and are found only in Alaska and the Yukon, living in Mountainous country, including glacier edges, just below the permanent snow line. Their habitat includes steep, rugged cliffs and rocky outcroppings useful for escape from predators, with nearby meadows for feeding. This example is a mature full-curl Ram with excellent quality taxidermy. His horns measure 38 x 37½ inches long around the curls and have 14 x 13 7/8 inches bases. A fine mount, it stands 19 inches from the wall and measures 31 inches high x 27 inches wide.

SOUTHERN GREATER KUDU SHOULDER MOUNT
Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros
The Greater Kudu is a large and elegant Elk-sized African antelope with magnificent corkscrew-shaped horns with beautiful ivory tips. Largely nocturnal, wary and alert, this big Gray Ghost of the African Bush is a highly coveted trophy for Big Game Hunters the world over. Kudus have a keen sense of hearing and their eyesight and sense of smell is excellent as well, which makes them a very sporting animal to hunt. The horns on this trophy Bull measure 52 7/8 x 52 5/8 inches around the spirals and the bases are 9 3/8 x 9¼ inches around. The taxidermy quality is excellent and it measures 62¼ inches high and 38 inches wide, projecting 34 inches from the wall to the tip of his nose.

SABLE ANTELOPE SHOULDER MOUNT
Hippotragus niger
The African Sable Antelope is considered to be one of the world's most beautiful animals and just looking at this specimen you can see why. They inhabit the wooded savannah of eastern and southern Africa and this mature Bull was harvested in Zambia. Its horns are easily removable for shipping and hanging and measure 38½ x 38 inches long and 9 1/8 x 9¼ around the circumference of the bases; overall the mount stands 50 inches high and 36 inches wide, with outstanding taxidermy quality.

ALASKAN MOOSE SHOULDER MOUNT
Alces alces gigas
The Alaskan Yukon Moose is the largest in the world, weighing up to 1350 lb. This is a mature Bull with 11 points on one antler and 10 points on the other; both antlers have very nice palmation and the taxidermy quality is outstanding. The male drops his antlers after the mating season to conserve energy over the winter and regrows a new set the following spring; however, if he is castrated, accidentally or chemically, he will shed his current antlers and immediately regrow a new, misshapen set, often referred to as "devil's antlers" which it will keep without shedding for the rest of its life. Coupled with their impressive headgear, the meat of the Moose has less fat, less cholesterol, and is higher in protein than beef, making it a top-notch trophy for hunters from all over the world. This superb example projects 50¾ inches from the wall to his nose tip and measures 49¼ inches wide and 50 inches from the bottom of the brisket to the antler tops.

AFRICAN LION FULL-BODY MOUNT
Panthera leo leo
The Lion is the largest member of the cat family except for the Tiger. Males are larger than females and have manes but not all have long-haired manes as some mature males in some areas of Africa are nearly bald. This one, however, is an exception at the other end of the spectrum, having a huge mane as well as a large body; in fact, wild African Lions do not come any better than this. A lot of the larger-maned Lions are found in zoos because most wild Lions now live in the dense thorn covered bush and this shreds mane hair. This mount has way above average taxidermy quality and represents a rare opportunity to acquire a really exceptional example of the King of the Beasts. It measures 77 inches long from the nose to the tip of the tail and standing 60 inches high on a sand-covered wooden base.

RECORD-CLASS MOUNTAIN LION (COUGAR) FULL-BODY MOUNT
Puma concolor
The Mountain Lion or Cougar is the largest of the North American Cat family and second only to the Jaguar in the Western Hemisphere. It is largely nocturnal, shy and characteristically very alert and elusive. In areas where they have been allowed to overpopulate these Cats have caused great damage to ranchers' sheep herds and in California Mountain Lions have killed 7 people in just the past 10 years. This is a huge trophy Tom with good taxidermy that probably weighed close to 200 lb in life. The mount measures 37 inches high and 56 inches in length and is 16¼ inches wide, making for a really dramatic display.

RED FOX FULL-BODY MOUNT
Vulpes vulpes
The most widely ranging terrestrial carnivore, the Red Fox is found in Alaska, Canada and the Northern United States, Europe, North Africa and most of Asia, including Japan, with an introduced population in Australia. It is the largest of all true Foxes, crafty, quite and cunning and tends to be crepuscular. They were hunted for sport and their beautiful fur back in the eighteenth century, the pelt of the silver-haired variant being considered to be worth more than 40 beaver pelts. This mount has a life-like pose with very good quality taxidermy and measures 28 inches long and 29 inches high, including a simulated rocky base.

GRAY FOX FULL-BODY MOUNT
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Found mostly in the southwestern United States the Gray Fox is one of North America's most beautiful animals. They are very elusive and quite secretive. It is similar in size to its cousin in the North, the Red Fox, but is in fact, along with the Island Fox, the only surviving member of the Urocyon genus, one of the most primitive of living canids. They live mainly on rodents, small birds, insects, turning to fruit when such meat is unavailable, and are distinguished amongst canids (the Asian Raccoon Dog aside) in their ability to climb trees. This is a handsome example, standing on a piece of drifted wood fixed to a hanging plaque, and projects 20½ inches from the wall.

BOBCAT FULL-BODY MOUNT
Lynx rufus
Similar to the Canadian Lynx but smaller-bodied and with shorter ear tassels, the Bobcat has long been one of North America's most successful predators. They prefer rabbits and hares, but have been known to hunt anything from insects to small rodents to deer, and despite extensive hunting both for their fur and for sport, the species has proven resilient. This specimen has been mounted in a very lifelike natural pose with superior quality taxidermy on a diorama base, and measures 21¼ inches high and 20 inches wide overall.

AFRICAN CRESTED PORCUPINE FULL-BODY MOUNT
Hystrix cristata
Because of their great protective covering of effectively deadly spines these animals can live up to 15 years. They can be a menace to crop-producing farmers in the Cape Region of Southern Africa where they live and some of the indigenous people kill them and enjoy eating them. Of course their very long quills mean sure danger for any type of predator from wild dogs to African Lions. The mount is 40 inches long and stands 20½ inches high on a diorama base, with good taxidermy quality.

PORCUPINE FULL-BODY MOUNT
Erethizon dorsatum
The North American Porcupine can be a destructive creature; they destroy thousands of trees each year, feeding on the tasty bark. It is an animal which should be avoided at all cost when traveling through the woods; many a hungry predator has regretted they ever attempted to attack one, ending with a face full of quills covered in tiny little barbs that slowly work their way down into the flesh. Some animals actually die from these very sharp quills and the porcupine itself is the only native North American animal with antibiotics in its skin, useful as it will frequently fall out of a tree and pierce itself with its own quills. This is a good quality mount of a mature animal and measures 25 inches long and 17¼ inches high.

WOLVERINE FULL-BODY MOUNT
Gulo gulo
Wolverines are considered the toughest animal in the world pound for pound. Largely nocturnal but occasionally active in daylight, these animals are solitary except when breeding. They can climb trees very well and they have been known to run Grizzly Bears off of their kills so that they may eat first. This particular mount is a good size mature male with a beautiful winter coat and measures 26 inches long and 23 inches high overall on a simulated stone base.

STRIPED SKUNK FULL-BODY MOUNT
Mephitis mephitis
Mainly crepuscular and secretive, this animal is a good one to stay away from because of the scent glands from which it will excrete an awful-smelling odor when threatened; sometimes they will even perform a handstand to get a better field of spray. They can carry rabies and are generally considered a pest, but are sometimes domesticated as pets in parts of Europe and the U.S. This is a competition-quality mount done by a top-notch taxidermist who spent a lot of time de-odorizing the mount and working on the fine details of the face to capture a life-like pose. A wonderful conversation piece, it measures 25 inches long and 12½ inches high on a diorama base.

AUSTRALIAN CINNAMON BRUSHY-TAILED POSSUM FULL-BODY MOUNT
Trichosurus vulpecula
These Possums were transplanted to New Zealand in 1840 in the hope that they would form the basis of a lucrative fur industry. The venture was manifestly successful although they have become an agricultural and conservation pest, wreaking havoc on some species of trees. This is a very high quality taxidermy mount in mint condition; perched on a driftwood wall mount, it measures 24 inches high and will make a interesting conversation piece.

AFRICAN SPRINGHARE FULL-BODY MOUNT
Pedetes capensis
Springhares look somewhat like miniature Kangaroos. They are from Southern Africa and are mainly herbivorous. They are nocturnal and spend their days in underground burrows, depending on their quickness and smart jumping ability to avoid dangerous predators. This mount was expertly done with a natural habitat type scene; it measures 29 inches from nose to tail and stands 17¾ inches high overall.

AFRICAN SPOTTED GENET FULL-BODY MOUNT
Genetta victoriae
The Genet is an omnivorous animal that spends much of its life in trees. They often hunt and forage on the ground for small rodents and insects. Despite their appearance, they are not in fact related to cats, although they are increasingly kept as pets worldwide, and before Cats became popular they were kept as rat catchers in medieval Europe. The beautiful ringed tail comprises half of the Genet's length, its effectiveness as a counterbalance an essential component of their superb climbing skills. The Spotted Genet is from the Cape of South Africa and this mount has been very well executed with an alert lifelike pose, perched on a tree section on a diorama base, 15¾ inches high overall.

BEAVER FULL-BODY MOUNT
Castor canadensis
Few wild animals have had as much influence on world exploration, history and economics as the North American Beaver. Much of the exploration of the New World, and Canada in particular, developed from the fur trade, stimulated principally by the demand for beaver fur to make the felted hats that were very popular in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Wars were even fought over access to Beaver trapping areas, such as the French and Indian War (or the Seven Years War) of 1754-63 in which the British defeated the French and gained control of northern North America. This is a superior quality mount in a very life-like pose and will make a wonderful conversation piece. It measures 40 inches long and 32 inches high and stands out from the wall 21 inches.

BADGER WITH PRAIRIE DOG DIORAMA
Taxidea taxus, Cynomys sp.
Found mostly in the Western U.S. and especially the Southwest, the American Badger is a tough customer to deal with. They will fight almost anything and can dig a hole as fast as anything alive. Here in this natural habitat setting the young Badger looks quizzically over at a Prairie Dog wondering curiously what's going to happen next. The taxidermist captured the moment in this scene with a great deal of expression and life-likeness, on a diorama base 50 x 19½ inches.

GIRAFFE PEDESTAL SHOULDER MOUNT
Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa
Giraffes live in dry country, covered with brush and acacia trees where they penetrate into light forest but never into the denser areas. It is a gregarious animal, living in herds ranging from 2 to 40 and sometimes to as many as 70 animals. This mount has superior quality taxidermy and a difficult, well-executed pose, extending its tongue to eat the succulent leaves of a high treetop. An extremely impressive piece, it stands a spectacular 9 feet high on a wood-clad octagonal diorama base on casters, 50½ inches wide.

KAFUE FLATS LECHWE SHOULDER MOUNT
Kobus leche kafuensis
This subspecies has by far the most spectacular horns of any of the Lechwe family. They are found only on the floodplains of Zambia and are quite expensive to hunt. Gregarious animals, they are often seen in herds of thousands running and leaping across the swampy floodplains, their hoofs are long and splayed for ticking through the mud. This Bull's horns are 28 x 27 3/8 inches long and the bases 6¾ x 6½ inches around. The mount is 43½ high from the bottom of the brisket to the tips of horns, 23 inches wide and projects 23 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose.

SOUTHERN GRANT'S GAZELLE SHOULDER MOUNT
Gazella granti
One of the world's most beautiful Gazelles, the Grant's Gazelle is the most sought-after trophy in East Africa, living in Tanzania and Kenya. Elegant and graceful they are a gregarious and plentiful creature whose meat is considered some of the finest table fare of the region. This particular mount is a large male with horns measuring 24¾ inches long on each side with bases 6½ x 6 3/8 inches around. The taxidermy displays outstanding workmanship and the mount measures 41 inches from the bottom of the brisket to the horn tips, 14 inches wide and projects 22 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose.

ADDAZ ANTELOPE SHOULDER MOUNT
Addax nasomaculatus
Native to Chad, the handsome desert-dwelling Addax has successfully been transplanted to the Exotic Big Game Ranches of the southwestern United States. It is a medium-sized antelope of stocky build, with long spiraling horns. The present example is a Record Class Bull with horns that spiral 44 inches long on each side, and with bases 6 x 5¾ inches in circumference. The mount displays excellent taxidermy quality giving the Addax a life-like expression, and measures 39½ inches from bottom of brisket to tips of horns in height and 22 inches wide and projects 22 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose.

KALAHARI GEMSBUCK SHOULDER MOUNT
Oryx gazella gazella
The Kalahari Gemsbuck is the largest member of the Oryx family, with a lovely mottled face that evokes the archetypal African look. These animals can go days without water and can be extremely dangerous when attacked or wounded. They are deadly accurate with their horns and many a Lion has been found dead with a wounded Gemsbuck nearby. This is a mature Bull with superior quality taxidermy. The horns are removable on this mount for easy shipping and hanging and measure 36 1/8 x 36 7/8 around the curve and 5 3/8 x 5½ around the circumference of the bases; overall the mount stands 53½ inches high, 15½ inches wide and 22½ inches from the wall to the nose.

SOMALI SOEMMERRING GAZELLE SHOULDER MOUNT
Nanger soemmerringii berberana
This type of Gazelle is found throughout Ethiopia and most parts of Somalia. It lives mainly in small family groups of up to 15, with males often solitary. One remarkable feature of the species is its ability to go without water for long periods of time. Mounts of this animal can be difficult to find and this is a large male with outstanding taxidermy and characteristic lyre-shaped horns measuring 17 x 17 inches. It stands 31 5/8 inches high, 14¼ wide and 19 1/8 from the wall.

BLACK SPRINGBUCK SHOULDER MOUNT
Antidorcas marsupialis marsupialis
The Black Springbuck is not a subspecies, but a chocolate brown color phase of the South African Springbuck that was developed by selective breeding. It is found on private Ranches in the Cape Region of South Africa; the original population came from the Skietkuil Farm near Hutchinson. This particular mount is a mature male with excellent quality taxidermy and horns measuring 13 x 13¼ inches and he stands 24¾ inches high, 11¼ inches wide and 17 inches from the wall.

SOUTHERN NYALA SHOULDER MOUNT
Tragelaphus angasii
The Southern Nyala is a medium-sized antelope of striking appearance; with a white chevron on the forehead, stripes on his side, long shaggy tail, beard, and a dark mane - everything the animal needs to be stunningly beautiful. In addition this South African antelope has wonderful spiraling thick black horns with lovely ivory tips. This one is a mature Bull with horns measuring 27 1/8 x 26¾ inches long around the spirals and bases that are 8½ inches around each horn. From the bottom of the brisket to the tip of the horns it measures 39½ inches, projects 26¾ inches from the wall to the nose and is 18¼ inches in width. The taxidermy quality is well above average with a majestically regal expression on the face.

BONGO SHOULDER MOUNT
Tragelaphus euryceros euryceros
The Bongo is one of the most coveted trophies in all of Africa. They are often tracked with dogs, but are very expensive to hunt and extremely difficult to stalk. They live in the deepest darkest jungle of Central Africa and do not come out to the open places except to get water or visit a salt lick. This particular mount is a high Record Book male with beautiful spiraling horns with lovely ivory tips that measure close to 34 inches long around the spirals. The mount stands approximately 48 inches high from the bottom of the brisket to the horn tips and is 26 inches wide, projecting 34 inches from the wall to the end of the nose. It boasts top quality taxidermy and will certainly demand attention wherever it is displayed.

PUKU ANTELOPE SHOULDER MOUNT
Kobus vardoni
The Puku is a medium-sized antelope closely related to the Kob. This species was first collected on the Zambezi River in Zambia in 1853 by missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone. It is an intermediate antelope between the Lechwes and the Kobs, found almost exclusively in marshy grassland and dambos. This is a large trophy-size male with horns measuring 18 1/8 x 18 inches long and bases both 7 inches in circumference. The mount boasts superior quality taxidermy, the pose is alert and life-like, and it measures 34 7/8 inches in height, 13 inches wide and stands 18½ inches from the wall.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT SHOULDER MOUNT
Oreamnos americanus
From the High Rocky Mountains of northwestern North America, the Mountain Goat is really a first-rate Big Game Trophy. Its eyesight and sure footing are as good as any mountain sheep and it inhabits far more difficult and dangerous grounds than any other Big Game. This mature Billy with a lovely full winter coat is a beautiful mount and will make a fantastic decoration, measuring 25 inches high, 16 inches wide and 23 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose

WHITE BEARDED WILDEBEEST SHOULDER MOUNT
Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus
The White-Bearded Wildebeest is found in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. The beard that gives him his name is a yellowish-white color, unlike that of the Blue Wildebeest, which is black. Known also as the Gnu, these animals are populace, and a favorite prey of Lions. The present example is a handsome trophy-sized Bull with excellent quality taxidermy, and he measures 26 inches high by 24½ inches wide and stands 29 7/8 inches from the wall.

CHACMA BABOON FULL-BODY MOUNT
Papio cynocephalus
The Chacma, or Cape Baboon is the most common and plentiful species of Baboon in Africa, moving in large groups called troops. They can be considered quite hazardous to farmers and their crops, and are very dangerous when cornered and wounded. This specimen is a large male and measures 38 inches long by 42¾ inches high with very nice quality taxidermy.

BURCHELL'S ZEBRA PEDESTAL SHOULDER MOUNT
Equus quagga burchelli
This is a fantastic full shoulder pedestal mount of a Burchell's or Southern African Zebra. It is a big Stallion with an outstanding stripe pattern and superior quality taxidermy. The mount measure 68 inches tall, 18 inches wide, and 34 inches in length. The distinctive stripes on Zebras are camouflage for the long tall grass to which they will run when their main predator the Lion comes for them; since the African Lion is colorblind the fact that the tall grass is neither black nor white is no hindrance to concealing the Zebra.

PERSIAN IBEX PEDESTAL SHOULDER MOUNT
Capra aegagrus aegagrus
Also called the Bezoar Ibex, this is a handsome animal known for its great mountain climbing skills. They are indigenous to Turkey and Iran and their long scimitar-like horns, together with their shaggy beard, gives them a most regal appearance. This one's horns measure 27 x 26 7/8 inches along the curve with bases 9 3/8 x 9¼ inches around. The mount is 51½ inches high and 22 inches wide and the taxidermy is of competition award quality.

BLACKBUCK ANTELOPE PEDESTAL SHOULDER MOUNT
Antilope cervicapra
The Blackbuck is truly one of the world's most beautiful antelopes. India is its native homeland, but it now thrives on Exotic Hunting Ranches in the Southern U.S. and Argentina. Males are reddish brown turning more of a jet black color as they get older. This is a mature male with excellent quality taxidermy mounted in a majestic pose, 38 5/8 inches high, 14 5/8 inches long and 11 inches wide. The horns are nice and straight and measure 18 inches long.

SOUTHERN WHITE RHINO SHOULDER MOUNT
Ceratotherium simum simum
The largest land animal after the Elephant, yet nearly exterminated by the early part of this century, the Southern White Rhino has been brought back to a healthy population level of around 13,000 in a classic example of good game conservation management. The 4-strong wild population of the Northern White Rhino has not been sighted since 2006, however. The Southern White is now expanding its range as well as population and is being regularly hunted; that it is a wary and elusive game animal that can make it a great challenge when stalked on foot. This particular mount has been excellently prepared using the real skin and a very life-like fiberglass reproduction cast of the real horn. The mount projects approximately 56 inches from the wall to nose and is 53 inches high and 27¼ inches wide, with the front horn measuring 23 inches long and 26 inches around. This is a very hard to find and well-executed taxidermy.

WARTHOG SHOULDER MOUNT
Phacochoerus aethiopicus
The African Warthog will never win a beauty contest but they make fine sport for Big Game Hunters and are unique in appearance in all the animal kingdom. They are gregarious animals living in bands from 4 to 6, and both males and females have four big warts and large ivory tusk. The Warthog uses these tusks to root and dig for food, but the straight, razor-sharp lower pair in particular can also make an excellent defensive weapon if needed. Males grow larger than females and can weigh up to 220 lb; this is a big trophy-class Boar with the upper tusks each measuring 11 inches long, with about 2¾ inches of the ivory inside the mouth. The taxidermy quality on this example is better than average and it will make a fantastic conversation piece, measuring 22 inches high, 14 inches wide and projecting 20½ inches from the wall.

GREDOS IBEX SHOULDER MOUNT
Capra pyrenaica victoriae
After the Beceite Ibex, the Gredos Ibex, or Western Spanish Ibex, is the largest and the darkest in color of the race of Ibex in Spain. This animal must be hunted on foot because of the steep and rough mountain terrain in which it lives, the Gredos Mountain Range after which it is named. The horns on this fine specimen measure 25 7/8 x 25 3/8 inches and the bases are 8½ x 8 3/8 inches around. The mount is 37½ inches high, 18 inches wide, projects 30 inches from the wall to the edge of the nose and displays excellent taxidermy quality.

BLESBUCK SHOULDER MOUNT
Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi
The Blesbuck is a plentiful antelope that lives on the plains of Southern Africa. They depend on their great binocular like eyes and speed for safety from predators. The male and female both have horns with the male's being slightly larger. This is a trophy male with horns that measure 14¾ inches long on both sides and taxidermy of superior quality. It measures 34 inches high, 15 inches wide and stands 20 inches from the wall to the tip of the nose.

SCIMITAR HORNED ORYX SHOULDER MOUNT
Oryx dammah
This unusual-looking animal takes its name from its long scimitar-shaped horns. Almost extinct in its native land of Chad, it is another wonderful success story of modern conservation efforts and sportsmen's dollars saving this species. A semi-desert grazer, it is gregarious and mixes well with other herd animals on Exotic Game Ranches here in the southwestern U.S. This is a mature Bull with horns measuring 36 1/8 x 35 1/8 inches long and bases each 6 3/8 inches around. With above-average quality taxidermy and beautiful coloring, this mount measures 48½ inches high from the bottom of the brisket to the top of horns, 38½ inches wide and projects from the wall to the tip of the nose 19¾ inches.

AMERICAN BISON SHOULDER MOUNT
Bison bison
The mighty American Bison roamed the Prairies by the hundreds of thousands at one time; then when almost completely gone, the Game Ranchers made a valiant effort that saved the animals from extinction, and they are now flourishing again on many ranches throughout the U.S. This example is a large Herd Bull with a thick buff on top and a nice full beard hanging under his chin. It stands approximately 48 inches high and projects about 40" inches from the wall to the tip of the nose and the taxidermy quality is very good.

WALRUS SHOULDER MOUNT
Odobenus rosmarus divergens
The Pacific Walrus is larger than the Atlantic race, and has considerably larger tusks. They live in the Bering and Chukchi seas, which lie between Siberia and Alaska, and eastward along the northern coast of Alaska. The mammals weigh 2,000-3,500 lb and measure 10 to 12 feet in length. This mount was prepared with the real skin and the real ivory tusks, measuring 22 5/8 x 23 1/8 inches; even the whiskers are genuine and this Walrus was the last one legally harvested that could be imported into the lower 48 states. Hunting Walrus can entail many miles of rough ocean travel in a small boat, frequently in fog, but the hunting of Pacific Walrus in Alaska was stopped after 1979 by a jurisdictional dispute between the government of the United States and the State of Alaska that has its roots in the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This impasse continues, even though it is acknowledged that Walrus are very plentiful and it is feared that they have increased beyond their food supply. This mount comes with all of the necessary legal papers and has superior quality taxidermy; mounts of Walrus that are in good condition are very hard to find and ones of this quality are extremely rare.

TEXAS LONGHORN STEER SHOULDER MOUNT
Bos taurus
These long-horned cattle were first brought to Texas about 200 years ago by the Spaniards and have thrived here ever since. They were the first breed of Cattle to prove that they could survive in North America. This example has nice wide horns that spread 73½ inches from tip to tip. The mount projects from the wall to the tip of nose 30 inches and the height from the bottom of the brisket to the top of horns is 37 inches. An extremely impressive mount, this would look fantastic over a bar to a fireplace or indeed anywhere.

HUGE RUSSIAN BROWN BEAR FULL-BODY MOUNT

Ursus arctos
The Kamchatka Brown Bear is the same as the Alaskan Peninsula Brown Bears, or the Kodiak Island Bears, but the present example is of exceptional size, squaring 11 foot in the field. To square a bear you must measure from the tip of the nose down the spine to the tip of the tail, and then from the tip of the claw to the elbow, to the hump on his back down to the other elbow, and then on to the next claw tip; the measurements are added together and divided by two to give the bear's squared measurement. The animal never stands what it measures because of the bends of the foot, back, and knees; the head is turned nose level with the ground and all of these arches and bends take off from the true length. When mounted, most Brown Bears do not reach 8 foot in height but this one stands an impressive 9 foot 6 inches, on a 62 x 50-inch base. This Giant Bear displays superb taxidermy quality, has excellent hair, and is sure to get everyone's attention no matter where it is displayed.

POLAR BEAR FULL-BODY MOUNT
Ursus maritimus
The Polar Bear is the largest terrestrial carnivore on the planet. These mounts are becoming increasingly difficult to find as all Polar Bears are under strict conversation laws now and are rarely seen for sale; this one was taken prior to the Marine Mammal Protection act and is fully legal for sale. It is a mature female, taken near Kotzebue, Alaska with all real claws and it squared a little over 8 feet in the field. Mounted, it measures 7 foot 5 inches tall on a simulated snow base 50 x 30 inches.

TIMBER WOLF FULL-BODY MOUNT
Canis lupus
No animal is more enshrined in the myths and legends of the peoples of the North than the Wolf. For thousands of years it has competed with man for game and killed his farm animals. Stories of attacks on humans are rife, but very many are exaggerated, and most are fantasy; there are a few substantiated cases of Wolves attacking people but they are rare indeed. This is a very handsome mount of a mature male and boasts excellent quality taxidermy. Wall-mounted on a simulated rocky base, it measures 47 inches long and 57 inches high overall, and projects 21 7/8 inches from the wall.

COYOTE FULL-BODY MOUNT
Canis latrans
The Coyote is the most successful predator in North America. A continually thriving population has survived trapping, poisoning, all types of hunting, and even bounties on their hides - cunning survivors to say the least. Apart from humans, their greatest threat is from wolves, as demonstrated by the Yellowstone Gray Wolf Reintroduction in the mid-nineties, and the subsequent drastic reduction in coyote numbers in the area. This particular mount has been well executed, in a relaxed reclining pose, and measures 35 inches long and 17 inches high.

CHINESE MUNTJACK FULL-BODY MOUNT
Muntiacus reevesi
The Chinese Muntjack is also called the Reeves Muntjack, for the British naturalist John Reeves who collected the type specimen in about 1838. The upper canine teeth of the males are elongated into tusks that protrude from the lips giving this small-bodied Deer a wicked vampire-like appearance. They are solitary animals, pairing up only for the mating season. They live in thick undergrowth and brush found near water and the males give a loud distinctive dog-like bark when alarmed or in the rut. Mounted on a sandy base for wall-hanging, this mount has superior quality taxidermy with a very alert lifelike pose and measures 29 inches long, 29½ inches high overall and stands 8 inches from the wall.

CHINESE WATER DEER FULL-BODY MOUNT
Hydropotes inermis
These Deer originate from China and Korea and live in swamps, reed beds, and the surrounding grasslands. They are antlerless in both sexes and only the male sports the unique fang-like tusks. This particular mount has superior quality taxidermy and stands 35¼ inches high, 30 inches long and 12 inches wide on a sandy base.

HIMALAYAN TAHR FULL-BODY MOUNT
Hemitragus jemalahicus
Native to the mountains of Nepal and New Zealand, the Himalayan Tahr demonstrates remarkable climbing ability and can leap and run down treacherous terrain at incredible speeds. The males and females both have horns and this is a large Bull with an incredible winter coat of hair. The handsome dark face and wonderfully thick and shaggy mane makes this one of the most beautiful of the high-mountain Big Game trophies. The present example displays excellent quality taxidermy and is mounted in a lifelike pose, skipping along a simulated rocky outcrop; it measures 62 inches long from the hoof to tip of nose and stands 80½ inches tall overall on a 29-inch wide wooden pedestal.

STEENBOK FULL-BODY MOUNT
Raphicerus campestris
The Steenbok is a pygmy antelope species from the plains of Southern Africa. These animals depend on their excellent eyesight and fine hearing as well as their speed and great jumping ability to keep safe from predators. Only males have horns and these animals pair up just for mating season. The taxidermy quality on this example is outstanding, and presented in a seated pose it measures 17¼ inches high and 23½ inches long.

ALPINE CHAMOIS FULL-BODY MOUNT
Rupricapra rupricapra rupricapra
These animals can be found in the Alps of southeastern France and the surrounding mountainous countries in this area of Europe. The summer coat is light brown and the winter coat is a very dark brown to black. The Chamois is a good mountain climber with excellent eyesight and can be difficult and quite sporting to hunt. This one is a large Buck with horns measuring 8½ x 8 3/8 inches long, each 3 inches around the base. The taxidermy quality is outstanding and it is presented in a seated pose on a simulated rocky base for wall mounting, 40 inches high, 37 inches wide and projecting 25 inches from the wall.

LARGE AAA ZEBRA RUG
Equus quagga burchelli
This is a large wild Stallion from southern Africa with good markings, few scars, and an excellent stripe pattern. The taxidermy quality is outstanding and the padding is neatly sewn and not glued like cheaper quality hide rugs. It measures 116 inches long from nose to tail and is 57 inches wide across the middle of the belly.

GOLDEN PHEASANT
Chrysolophus pictus
This is one of the world's most beautiful birds. It originated in China, hence its alternate name, the Chinese Pheasant. The vibrant yellows of its lovely vari-colored plumage give this bird its usual name, and the deep orange cape can be spread in display, boasting dramatic stripes of black and orange. The taxidermy quality of this specimen is top quality, presented in a fine diorama setting and measuring 12½ inches high and 28 inches long.

RINGNECK PHEASANT
Phasianus colchicus
The Ringneck Pheasant is one of the world's most popular game birds and also one of the most beautiful. These birds were brought to the U.S. from Asia many years ago and have flourished since, despite the fact that they also make for great table fare. This is a cock, or male, with excellent taxidermy and measures 13 inches high and 28 inches long on a flocked and turned wooden base.

WOOD DUCK DRAKE
Aix sponsa
This is a beautiful Drake, a male Wood Duck or Carolina Duck, mounted in a relaxed standing pose. With its distinctive iridescent plumage and red eyes, the Wood Duck is considered the prettiest of all the North American ducks, with the drake being slightly more colorful than the hen. They range from Nova Scotia to almost every state in the union; those in East Texas and other southern parts of their range are year-round residents, but the northern populations migrate to join them during the winter. The taxidermy quality here is superior class and mounted on a turned oak base, and the complete specimen measures 15 inches high.

PINTAIL DRAKE ON DRIFTWOOD
Anas acuta acuta
The Pintail gets its name from its very long sharp pointed tail. They are the widest ranging of all the ducks in North America, but breed chiefly west of the Mississippi where they feed primarily on excess grain in the farm fields. They are one of the best types of ducks for fine table fare. The taxidermy on this example is excellent and the mount is very lifelike, presented on a piece of driftwood and standing 13½ inches high.

DRAKE AND HEN PARADISE SHELDUCKS
Tadoma variegata
This is a lovely pair of Paradise Shelducks from New Zealand. Large to medium-sized Ducks, they were discovered by Captain Cook on his second voyage to the South Pacific in 1773. They are prized game birds whose plumage colors vary with the seasons. They are a species that mates for life, and this fine pair is presented on a log, the whole piece standing 17 inches high.

EXTRA-LARGE DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE
Crotalus atrox
This is a very thick and heavy example of the deadly Diamondback Rattlesnake, measuring a remarkable 69 7/8 inches long uncoiled. A giant specimen like this one could pack a large venom sack full of deadly poison, but he would be in no great hurry to use it - these snakes have been shown to be able to go up to two years without food in the wild. Diamondbacks are fairly common throughout the southwestern United States, are found also on some islands in the Gulf of California, and are responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico. This particular specimen is presented in a natural pose with excellent quality taxidermy on a wooden diorama base 19½ x 19¼ inches.

LARGE LAKE TROUT
Salvelinus namaycush
This is a very fine quality fiberglass mount of a big 48½-inch Lake Trout. The recreation is so lifelike that it's superior to most skin mounts because it will not slowly leak oil or raise scales with age as real skin Trout and Salmon mounts can sometimes do. A large and dramatic display piece, it is mounted on a wooden plaque 28 x 58 inches.

LARGE RAINBOW TROUT
Onchorhynchus mykiss
This is a very large Rainbow Trout measuring 28 inches long, known also as a Steelhead. They are one of the world's most beautiful trout and this one was mounted quite well with outstanding and vibrant color restoration. This trophy fish will make a fantastic display, with a wall hanging fixture on the reverse.

LARGE REDFISH ON NATURAL DRIFTWOOD
Sciaenops ocellatus
The Redfish, Channel Bass or Red Drum is definitely one of the world's best eating fish, and considered by sportsman to be one of the finest game fish. It is found the length of the eastern seaboard from Massachusetts to Florida, and along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. This mount was done with real skin and measures 38½ inches long. It is not a given for a fish mount to be prepared with the real skin because many salt-water fish are too difficult to prepare properly and to preserve, but this one is a fine exception, with outstanding taxidermy. The mount is fixed to a natural weathered piece of driftwood and will make a beautiful wall-hung display.

HYBRID STRIPED BASS
Morone chrysops x M. saxatalis
The Hybrid Striped Bass, or Wiper, is a cross between the White Bass (or Sand Bass) and the Striper (or Striped Bass). This example is about as big as they get and is definitely a true trophy, measuring 27½ inches long and 20 inches around the belly. It is a real skin mount with superb taxidermy quality, and presented on a wooden wall plaque.

LARGE AFRICAN LION SKULL
Panthera leo leo
This is a very large Wild African Lion skull fixed on a finished wooden wall plaque. It is in excellent condition and is a Record Book specimen measuring 15 9/16 inches long and 9 12/16 inches wide for a Safari Club score of 25 5/16 inches. The skull has been professionally cleaned and boasts lovely bone texture and excellent large canines.

MOUNTAIN LION SKULL
Puma concolor
Mountain Lions kill an average of three Deer a week where the Deer population is good, and, when not hunted, these animals wreak havoc on farmers' and ranchers' livestock. Next to the Jaguar, these animals are the largest of the cat species in the Western Hemisphere. This fine skull is from a mature male, has been professionally cleaned, and is in excellent overall condition, measuring 8 3/8 x 5 3/8 x 3 7/8 inches, mounted on a wooden wall plaque.

GREATER KUDU SKULL
Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros
This magnificent large spiral-horned Antelope is one of the most coveted trophies of the South African Bush. Its beautiful spiraling horns wave through the brush as the Kudu lopes its way into the shadows with ivory horn tips disappearing into the hunters dreams. This specimen is in mint condition with horns measuring 48 3/8 x 48 inches long around the spirals, with thick bases measuring 10¼ x 10 3/8 inches around. Mounted on a wood panel for wall hanging, it measures 46 inches high x 27 inches wide, and stands out from the wall 17 7/8 inches.

LARGE HIPPOPOTAMUS DENTITION DISPLAY
Hippopotamus amphibius
More people are killed by Hippos in Africa than by Rhinos, Elephants, Lions and Cape Buffalos combined. The giant "Water Horse" is very territorial and its giant ivory tusks can be used like a sharpened baseball bat on intruders into their space. They can also be very aggressive out of the water, and their apparently lumbering size is very deceptive: they can attain speeds estimated up to 30mph over short distances. This display boasts six pairs of tusks (a full set) of Record Book size, with the large curving canines measuring 27¼ x 26½ around the outside curves. Each has been repaired and stabilized with a filling and comes mounted on a round wooden panel 34½ inches in diameter, with the carved image of a hippopotamus at the center.

PAIR OF AFRICAN ELEPHANT TUSKS
Loxdontaa africana
The African Elephant is larger than the Asian Elephant (the one most usually found in zoos and circuses) and it is a thriving species, even overpopulated in some areas due to strict hunting regulations. They can often be destructive of farmer's crops and are very dangerous when cornered or wounded. Elephants are right or left-tusked just as humans are right or left-handed and this usually causes one tusk or the other to be shorter due to habitual foraging and digging on that one side; tusks are often also scarred and scratched up from life in the African Bush. This pair came from a large old Bull taken many years ago and they were left in their natural state and not polished to a shiny finish. They measure 74¾ x 63 inches long on the outside curve with circumferences 16¼ x 16¾ inches at the thickest point and weighed approximately 130 pounds when harvested.

LARGE NARWHAL TUSK
Monodon monoceras
The Narwhal is the strangest and rarest of all species of whale to be found in the modern-day oceans. It is related to the Beluga and the Irawaddy Dolphin, but distinguished by the unique growth of its left tooth to form a "unicorn" spear that can reach up to 10 feet in length - its Latin name means "one tooth, one horn". A native of the Arctic oceans, it was once thought that the distinctive tusk was a tool for breaking through the thick ice covering its native waters or that perhaps its use was primarily ritual. Recent research suggests, however, that unlike the protruding horn-like teeth and tusks found in other mammals, that of the Narwhal may in fact be a sensory organ; electron micrography reveals millions of tiny tubules leading from the surface of the horn and apparently connecting to the nervous system. Such tubules are found in many species, but do not typically extend to the outer surface of healthy teeth. In the case of the Narwhal, they may be used to sense water temperature and pressure, or even barometric pressure. In medieval Europe the Narwhal horn was thought to be from the Unicorn and they were sold for considerably more than their weight in gold, prized for their supposedly magical properties and as protection against poison; Elizabeth I paid £10,000 for one, which was more than the cost of a castle, and it may be that same specimen that survives today as the shaft of the English Royal Scepter (the Narwhal's horn was similarly used for the scepters of the Austrian Hapsburgs and the Russian czars).The present example is of impressive size, at 77¼ inches in length, and exhibits the classic left-handed helix structure all the way along its length to the well-formed tip, and the fine root section retains some of the original tissue. Comes complete with documentation allowing it to be sold within the United States. However, it is important to note that this lot cannot be exported outside of the United States.
Provenance: From a museum collection in Ohio.

LARGE ASSORTED INSECT DISPLAY
Various species
Peru
This remarkable display contains over 200 fantastic specimens of a wide variety of bugs and creepy crawlies, including beetles, crickets, stick insects, scorpions and more. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and the 36 x 48-inch horizontal case is glazed on both sides to afford a perfect three-dimensional view, and bound in mahogany. All of the insect species in this display case are listed on one edge of the frame.

LARGE ASSORTED BUTTERFLY DISPLAY
Various species
Peru
This beautiful display is comprised of: 18 Phoebis philea, the "orange-barred sulfur" with lovely bright yellow wings exhibiting a delicate orange blush; 24 Panacea prola, with their lovely strong rust red lower wings, and black upper wings with a slash of white highlighting; 24 of the striking Morpho amathonte, distinctive for the brilliant metallic blue of its large wingspan; and 21 Urania leilus, a diurnal moth that is just as beautiful as any butterfly, with stripes of black and electric green, white tails and a splash of electric blue highlight. The horizontal 36 x 48-inch case is glazed on both sides to afford a perfect view of the underside of the specimens' wings, equally dazzling in its array of colors and patterns, and framed in mahogany.

LARGE BUTTERFLY SWARM DISPLAY
Morpho amathonte
Peru
This impressive and beautiful case contains 36 specimens of the neotropical Morpho butterfly. A large species, it dazzles the eye with the brilliant iridescence of its electric blue wings. The underside is a different story however, in delicate soft shades of beige, with the characterful "eyes" that help disguise the insect from predators. A spectacular display, the 48 x 36-inch vertical case is glazed on both sides for maximum visibility and framed in mahogany.

CREEPY CRAWLY INSECT DISPLAY
Various species
Peru
Not for the faint-hearted, this impressive display contains specimens of: the world's largest Jewel Beetle, Euchroma gigantea; the Harlequin Beetle, Acrocinus longimanus with its lovely patterned wings and incredibly long forelimbs; Callipogon armillatus, the well-named Giant Longhorn Beetle; the Rhinoceros Beetle Golofa claviger, equally well-named for its remarkable vertical horn; the gigantic grasshopper Tropidacris cristata; a member of the Tettigoniidae Bush Cricket, or Katydid subfamily Pseudophyllinae with its pretty red and green wings; Blaberus gigantea, the Trinidad Giant Cockroach; the Giant Cicada Quesada gigas; a spindly-legged Red-Brown Whip Spider, or Tailless Whip Scorpion, of the Paraphrynus genus; a representative of the populous Avicularia genus, the jumping rain forest spider; and 2 Pamphobeteus antinous, the Bolivian Blue-Legged Tarantula, one entirely black and the other with strong purple coloring to its upper legs. Both of these last specimens boast huge curved fangs, visible from the underside - the 19 5/8-inch square case is glazed on both sides for a full three-dimensional view of the specimens and framed in mahogany.

BLUE CAP TOURMALINE
Tourmaline Queen Mine, Pala District, San Diego County, California, USA
Ask any knowledgeable mineral collector, or dealer, what the top five finds of the past century were and certain to be among them is the 1972 discovery of the "Blue Cap Pockets" in the Tourmaline Queen Mine. So impatient were some of the "helpers" to see what these gem treasures looked like, valuable beer was sacrificed in order to wash them free of mud on the spot. Besides the considerable size of some of the crystals recovered, they were, and are, immediately recognizable for possessing an almost unheard of combination of reddish-pink bodies and deep navy blue terminations - all in the same crystal. This combination is particularly beautiful when the specimen is back-lit. While there were a number of small, single crystals recovered, the number of large or multiple crystal specimens was very small. These few larger examples have been the "crown jewels" at the Smithsonian Institution and in a small number of other collections, both public and private. For 37 years, this treasure has graced the private collection of Signore Walter Lago of Italy. The Lago specimen is comprised of two major and one minor crystal, measuring respectively: 4 ½ x 2 inches; 2 ½ x 2 ½ inches; and 1 ½ x ½ inches. The crystals have a deep Fuchsia pink body color, capped with its namesake blue layer - approximately ¼ inch in thickness (which actually grades from colorless to Indigo blue on the terminal face). All of the larger specimens from this famous find tend to have minor nicking and many, including this one, have repairs (having fallen from the ceiling of the pocket sometime after formation). In spite of that, their rarity and spectacular coloration have made them among the most coveted and desirable of all mineral specimens. Overall measurements are 4 ½ x by 4 ½ x 2 ¾ inches and it has a custom labeled base.

BLUE & PURPLE FLUORITE WITH CALCITE, DOLOMITE AND QUARTZ
Shangbao Pyrite mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
Fluorite is one of the most popular and widely collected minerals in the world. The bewildering variety of crystal forms coupled with a broad palette of possible colors, sometimes several in the same specimen, make for some truly appealing natural art works. As an example, this seemingly simple Fluorite group combines complexly "stepped" octahedral faces with simple, planar cube faces. Meanwhile the color shifts from blue-violet to colorless to purple depending upon lighting and orientation. Even the associated minerals present surprises. Only upon close inspection does it become apparent that there are three minerals that are close to each other in color as well as proximity: tapering "dogs-teeth" of Calcite, curved Dolomite crystal groups and an occasional prism of Quartz. Throw in the wonderful contrast between complex surface reflections and the delicately masked transparency of the interior and you have a visual treat capable of enchanting the viewer for hours. In excellent condition it measures 4 ½ inches by 2 ½ inches by 4 inches. The largest crystal measures 1 ¾ inches across and it sits on a custom labeled acrylic base.

LILAC PURPLE FLUORITE CUBE PERCHED ON SPHALERITE
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA
Closed now, the Elmwood Mine of Carthage, Tennessee, was a prolific producer of exquisite Fluorite on Sphalerite specimens for many years. The better examples from Elmwood are easily identifiable by their colorless transparency that grades into a light lilac. The simple cubic habit, with complex surface features, contrasts nicely with the dark and lustrous reddish brown of the Sphalerite group at the base of the specimen. There is a minor "ding" to one of the back corners and a minuscule amount of nicking to a front edge, otherwise excellent condition. Back side of specimen shows attachment point to fissure wall. On a custom labeled acrylic base, overall measurements are 3 ½ x 3 3/8 x 2 ¾ inches.

PURPLE FLUORITE
De'An Mine, Wushan, Jianxi Province, People's Republic of China
The highly desirable Fluorite specimens from the De'An Mine have a number of specifically identifiable characteristics: they display either an octahedral habit or a dodecahedral one, with no cubic crystals being seen. In addition, virtually all are surrounded by a thick layer of colorless/white Quartz which must be removed in order to see the crystals. Usually this layer is selectively removed via acid etching while leaving enough material below the crystals to serve as a contrasting matrix. The acid etch technique destroys any euhedral Quartz associated with the Fluorite but it is easier, and requires less skill, than the mechanical removal displayed by this example. Two classic dark purple dodecahedrons are securely nestled within their enclosing white matrix, whose surface is covered with the euhedral Quartz crystals mentioned above. Both Fluorites are free from damage and show a reddish-purple hue and fine luster. Normally, crystals from here show a matte surface luster when exposed. In excellent condition it measures 5 ½ x 3 x 2 5/8 inches and has a custom labeled base.

VERY LARGE PURPLE FLUORITE CRYSTAL
Denton Mine, Ozark-Mahoning Company, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
The Denton Mine, famous for producing some of the finest Illinois Fluorites, has been closed now for over 15 years, and good large specimens are becoming increasingly harder and more expensive to acquire. This rather hefty example features a large main crystal of the deep purple hue that the Denton Mine was famous for. When originally mined, the entire crystal was coated with, and obscured by, Barite crystals. The Barite was painstakingly and carefully removed to reveal this large purple Fluorite specimen. The color is quite spectacular when backlit in a dark room, showing a rosy tint that is less apparent in daylight. There is a minor bit of corner damage but it doesn't affect display significantly. Overall measurements are 6 ¼ inches high by 7 ½ inches wide by 3 ½ inches deep and it is in fine condition.

FLUORITE
Orange River, Warmbad, Great Namaqualand, Kras Region, Namibia
The Riemvasmaak area along the Orange River of South Africa has recently produced a number of fine green Fluorite crystal groups, but this particular specimen literally comes from across the river in Namibia. Virtually all of the Fluorite crystals from this region are octahedral in form. This is one of a few known specimens from this area where the crystals are cubo-octahedral. In addition, it is situated like a true exhibitionist, on top of a Quartz finger for all the world to see. The color is a light transparent green and the surfaces alternate between complex & druzy on the cube faces and simple/planar on the octahedral ones. It is in excellent condition with no damage and measures 2 inches by 1 ¼ inches by 1 1/8 inches and the largest crystal is 1 ¼ inches across. It has a custom labeled base.

FLUORITE
Frazier's Hush Mine, Rookhope District, Weardale, North Pennines, County Durham, England
As a mine name, Frazier's Hush pays homage to "hushing", a medieval mining practice involving damming a stream, then breaching the dam to release a flood downstream, whereupon the water would strip the topsoil away and reveal any ore hidden by the soil mantle. The antiquity of the term gives an indication of just how long the deposits in northern England have been worked. During that time, literally hundreds of thousands of Fluorite specimens have been extracted from area mines and the relative value/quality standards for this mineral have been extremely well established. It is a tribute to this specimen's quality that it was acquired for the permanent collection of Mr. Lindsay Greenbank within one week of its emergence from the mine. Mr. Greenbank is one of the more prominent of English mineral collectors living in the U.K. In fact, a forthcoming publication will be chronicling his collection and will feature this specimen. It was removed from the south wall of the 340 Level of the mine in 1990. Glowing blue-purple penetration twinned crystals to 22 mm cover the upper surface of this world class specimen. Fluorite from this locality not only fluoresces in ultra-violet light (see photo), it even glows magnificently in ordinary daylight: the purple cubes producing an unearthly blue glow in simple daylight (see photo). This phenomenon is so strong that, as a group, these English Fluorites gave the name "fluorescence" to the effect, which is how the word entered the common parlance. The only time this Fluorite doesn't fluoresce is when seen under normal indoor lighting. The condition of the piece is excellent with glassy luster and exquisite transparency. The individual crystals are sharp and well formed. This is arguably one of the finest English Fluorites on display today. It measures 11 x 8 ½ x 2 ¾ inches.
Provenance: Lindsay Greenbank collection

PINK FLUORITE ON MUSCOVITE
Chumar Bakhoor, Hunza River Valley, Pakistan
This is a clear case of mineralogical deception: what we have here is a very fine pink Fluorite attempting to pass itself off as a Morganite. Savvy collectors will not be fooled. Despite its gemmy transparency and luscious hue, the presence of what are obviously classic Fluorite crystal faces tells the true story: that this is one of the larger and finer "Spinel-Twin" type Fluorites ever to appear on the market. Hiding in a corner of the matrix is a light green area but virtually all of this enormous (5 ½ inches across) tabular crystal is a spot-on version of gem Morganite pink. The matrix itself is exceptional in that it is made up of sharp, silvery Muscovite blades that have not been damaged like so many others from this part of the world. There is an internal cleavage in the main crystal that has not been "enhanced" or "restored" in any way. The luster is glassy and the overall condition is excellent. This giant crystal measures 5 ¼ inches high by 6 ¼ inches wide by 4 ½ inches deep. It is freestanding.

"POKER CHIP" CALCITE
2nd Sovietski Mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
A very aesthetic white Calcite crystal group arranged in a stacked "poker chip" habit. This specimen is highly fluorescent and glows a very deep red-orange under UV light. Condition is fine with very minor edge wear. Overall measurements are 3 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches and it has a custom labeled base. Ex Vladimir Kuvshinov collection.

SULFUR ON MATRIX
Agrigento (Girgenti), Agrigento Province, Sicily, Italy
Sharp, blocky and bright yellow Sulfur crystals stand out very aesthetically against the white Aragonite/Calcite "vug" type of matrix sometimes seen in the best Sicilian material. The interior and exterior surfaces of the Aragonite/Calcite are covered with druzy crystals that fluoresce under UV light. Condition of the Sulfur crystals is pristine as is the condition of the specimen overall. It measures 4 ¼ x 3 x 1 ¾ inches and is freestanding.
Provenance: Carl Bentley collection; Schortmann collection, with labels to match.

RHODOCHROSITE
N'Chwaning Mine, North Cape Province, South Africa
The discovery of amazingly fine Rhodochrosite crystals in South Africa some thirty years ago "rocked" the mineral collecting world. After the initial production, expectations were high for a continuing supply of these reddish gems. That didn't happen. The production from that short period was very limited in spite of enormous demand. Today, demand for these unique specimens is stronger than ever; ranking with Kongsberg Silvers and Red Cloud Wulfenites in desirability. This example is composed of transparent dark red 'gumdrops' of Rhodochrosite resting on a characteristic druzy, deep black Manganese Oxide matrix. The main crystal group is 1 ¼ inches across. There is some minor "contact" to the back side of the main group and minor cleavage "dings" to secondary group, otherwise fine. Accompanied by a custom labeled acrylic base, overall specimen measurements are 2 ¾ x 1 ½ x 1 ¼ inches.

RHODONITE ON MATRIX
Morro da Mina, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
Bright, watermelon red is the dominant color theme of this Brazilian treasure. The bladed Rhodonite rises like a soaring Himalayan peak from out of a cloud of white Quartz. To add to the eyes delight, there is a sprinkling of brassy, euhedral Pyrite cubes scattered across the matrix. Several subsidiary Rhodonite crystals are likewise randomly arranged at various angles to the main crystal. The main crystal measures 1 1/8 inches on edge and the overall dimensions are: 2 inches by 1 ½ inches by 5/8 inch thick. The Rhodonites are complete and undamaged. Sits on a custom labeled base.

RHODOCHROSITE SCULPTURE
Oppu mine, Nishimeya-mura, Naka-Tsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture, Tohoku Region, Honshu Island, Japan
One of the classic Rhodochrosite localities of the world is the Oppu Mine of Japan which has a very long mining history. Mined first in the late 17th century for silver, then for copper during the 18th century, and from the 19th century to 1979 it produced lead, zinc and cadmium. In the 1980's the mine was reopened briefly to mine Rhodochrosite as lapidary material - but there have never been significant quantities available. This sensual sculpture is entirely composed of Rhodochrosite from the Oppu Mine. Extremely well polished to a mirror-bright finish, it shows the deep red hue that this mine was famous for; and the back shows associated Sphalerite and Galena inclusions. In extremely fine condition, it stands on its own, without a base, and measures 6 3/8 inches high, 4 3/8 inches wide and is 1 ½ inches thick.

VANADINITE
Mibladen, Morocco
Deep red and highly lustrous hexagons of Vanadinite, the rare Lead Vanadate, are liberally distributed over a light pink matrix with hints of tan. The largest of the tabular crystals is approximately ½ inch across. There is some minor damage to several crystals but the specimen still displays very well. Some Vanadinite crystals are also on the back. On a custom labeled acrylic base, overall measurements are 5 ½ x 2 5/8 x 2 inches thick.

DEEP PINK ROSE QUARTZ
Sapucaia Mine, Sapucaia do Norte, Galiléia, Doce Valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
Of all the various colors that Quartz crystals may exhibit, the bright pink variety is by far the most difficult to obtain. For unknown reasons, deep pink "Rose" Quartz has an extremely hard time forming decently euhedral crystals. Even when it does manage to do so, they never approach the kind of size that other color varieties of this mineral achieve. Not content to be just a fine example of crystallized Rose Quartz, this specimen also shows some of the more uncommon and interesting forms that Quartz can develop: scepter and reverse scepter habits. So far, an out-of-the-way corner of Brazil is the only source for these rarely seen wonders. One crystal shows a minuscule blemish and there is the typical contact areas at the edges, otherwise it is in excellent condition. Former owners of the piece include Stephen Smale: one of only twelve people to win both the Wolf and the Fields Prizes in mathematics. He and his wife Clara have amassed one of the premier collections of fine minerals in the world and they acquired this specimen in 1990. The lot comes with a Smale label and a custom acrylic base. Overall measurements are 4 ½ x 2 ¾ x 1 ¾ inches, with single crystals to ¾ inch long.

AJOITE IN QUARTZ
Messina Mine, Transvaal, South Africa
Radiating turquoise blue sprays of Ajoite, a rare copper mineral, are frozen for eternity inside of a large, single Quartz crystal accompanied by multiple, blue-tipped accessory prisms. This type of specimen comes only in small quantities, and rarely, from a deposit at the Messina Mine in South Africa. Unlike the typical examples from this deposit, the Quartz layer directly over the Ajoite is lustrous and quite transparent. The presence of "growth hillocks" on the the surfaces indicate that no polishing was done to enhance the prisms, a common practice performed on most specimens. There is small, and inconsequential nicking, to a few crystal edges, otherwise it is in excellent condition. Overall measurements are 5 ½ x 3 x 3 ½ inches.

"SUGAR CUBE" BARITE (QUARTZ ON BARITE)
Murray Mine, Independence Mountains, Elko Co., Nevada, USA
Operations at Anglo Gold and Meridian's Murray Mine took an interesting turn with the discovery of open cavities: they were several feet in length, lined with uniquely distinctive, blocky Barite crystals and covered with sparkling druzy Quartz. Miners referred to these as "sugar cubes" for their close resemblance to that coffee-break commodity. These scintillating bits of 'eye candy' are randomly scattered over a dark, siliceous matrix. Most examples are only four to six inches across making this a very significant specimen from this locality since it is over a foot high. The largest of the "sugar cubes" is 5/8 of an inch in length. Further production is highly unlikely considering that the mine has been closed for three years now and there are no plans to re-open it. Overall measurements are 12 ¼ inches high by 5 inches wide by 4 inches thick and it has a custom acrylic base.

CHALCOPYRITE AND QUARTZ
Boldut Mine, Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramures Co., Romania
A study in contrasting shapes and colors, this crystal group features bright, brassy wedge-shaped crystals of Chalcopyrite (a mixed iron/copper sulfide) nestled in among some colorless and prismatic Quartz crystals. The arrangement is random, courtesy of Mother Nature, but the effect is one of studied design. There are the usual tiny nicks in a spot or two, but overall the piece is quite pristine. On the back is a pair of accession numbers: "A40" & "F136". Overall measurements are 3 ½ x 2 ¾ x 1 ¼ inches and the largest crystal is 1 inch across.
Provenance: Watzl Collection

RARE ALASKAN GIANT GOLD NUGGET - THE "KAUFFMAN" NUGGET
Brooks Range Mine, near Wiseman, Alaska
Large gold nuggets over 5 troy ounces are extremely rare, especially from Alaska. The present specimen was almost discarded with gravel from the mining operation's placer system, designed to collect the smaller, more common gold fragments. Few such nuggets of this size are recovered, but it suggests that somewhere within the mountains above Lake Creek 45 miles west of Wiseman in the northern Yukon there is a mother lode just waiting to be exploited. This is a fantastic, palm-sized natural nugget of gold, its surface rubbed almost entirely smooth by alluvial action and formed into a shape reminiscent of the human heart. It measures approximately 4¼ x 2¾ x ¾ inches and weighs in at a whopping 21.6927 ozt (674.7g); the story of its discovery is recounted in the October 10, 1995 Anchorage Daily News, the relevant portion of which is included with this Lot.

GOLD NUGGET
North San Juan, Yuba River, North San Juan District (Badger Hill District), Nevada Co., California, USA
From the Yuba River area of California is this uncommonly large nugget. Minute traces of the original Quartz host rock and rounding of external surfaces indicate that this specimen was probably acid etched from a slightly stream-worn nugget. The Gold is high Karat and there is virtually no other associated minerals. It measures 2 3/8 x 1 ¾ x 1 inch and weighs 6.14 ozt (190.9 g).

NATIVE GOLD NUGGET
Wedderburn, Victoria, Australia
This characterful nugget exhibits the bright yellow color that denotes a high karat content common to many such Australian samples. Although flattened by its journey along the outback canyon floor, both faces exhibit a wealth of character, with large areas rubbed beautifully smooth by alluvial action, interspersed with characterfully textured depressions. Held a certain way, it even resembles an elongated head with a tall sloping forehead. A highly characterful specimen, it measures approximately 2 3/8 x 15/8 x 5/8 inches and weighs 5.633 ozt (175.2g).

GOLD NUGGET
North San Juan, Yuba River, North San Juan District (Badger Hill District), Nevada Co., California, USA
A sizable (3.794 troy oz) nugget of high Karat Gold from the Yuba River District of California. Based on the presence of unetched Quartz pebbles partially enclosed by the Gold, it is likely that the missing material deposited with the Gold was a somewhat soluble mineral now dissolved away. There is little, or no, evidence of stream wear. It measures 2 7/8 x 7/8 x 1 inches and weighs 3.79 ozt (117.8 g).

CHARACTERFUL GOLD NUGGET
Wedderburn, Victoria, Australia
Gold has been used as currency for over 5000 years and will never lose its value. One reason for its popularity is its seductive aesthetic appeal, a characteristic perfectly demonstrated in this wonderful nugget. The beautifully pure golden color denotes a high karat content, but the whimsical, curving, organic-seeming form is what really sets this specimen apart. With bulges, folds, craters and highly textured depressions, it resembles a mass of crumpled gold leaf, highlighted by small raised areas rubbed to an almost-entirely smooth burnished finish through alluvial action, and enlivened by numerous natural apertures. A lovely example of mankind's favorite precious metal it measures approximately 2¼ x 1 5/8 x ¾ inches and weighs in at 3.144 ozt (97.8g).

PORPEZITE - PALLADIAN GOLD
Itabira, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
One of the problems associated with rare minerals (particularly ones found in limited quantities, over a short period of time, from only one locality, with little or no data recorded, some years ago) is that the specimen exists and can be analyzed, etc. but the precise location that produced it cannot be pinned down. That is the case here: this Porpezite is a very distinctly identifiable alloy of Gold with 5-10% of the rare Platinum Group metal: Palladium. It was found at one location, now lost, near Itabira in Brazil. This particular example shows a finely crystalline, almost cellular texture that has the appearance of a shiny sponge made of brass. The weight, approximately 132 grams, immediately suggests that there is a significant amount of gold contained in the specimen. There is a small amount of an unidentified white material in a crease to one side: presumably it is a remnant of the country rock. The renowned William W. Pinch Collection was at one time home to this exotically rare specimen. Mr. Pinch is reckoned to be one of the premier mineralogists of our time and his encyclopedic knowledge on the subject is formidable as well as legendary. A Pinch Collection label accompanies it. A note on the back of the label indicates that it assays 7% Palladium according to well known Brazilian dealer Carlos Barbosa. This rarely encountered golden treasure measures a sizable 2 ½ x 1 ¼ x ¾ inch.
Provenance: William W. Pinch Collection

PLATINUM NUGGET
Tura River, Perm, Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Middle Ural Mountains, Russia
When you compare the number of large gold nuggets against their Platinum counterparts, one fact becomes very apparent: there are much fewer pieces of native Platinum discovered every year than gold ones. Part of this has to do with the much smaller number of producing localities for Platinum. Part of it has to do with the much smaller size of known Platinum specimens. The end result is that nuggets, such as this one, are very rarely found and given their intrinsic value, even more rarely preserved. Unlike the stream-worn masses normally seen, this sparkling, crystalline mass shows little or no effects due to such wear. Chances are that it hadn't moved very far from its place of origin. The label from Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd of London gives the locality as "Perm, Ural Mountains, Russia". Today this locality is best referred to as "Tura River, near Perm, Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Middle Urals, Russia". It is quite sizable at 45.4 grams (1.45 troy oz.) and shows a dark associated mineral present as minute interstitial grains among the Platinum crystals. In addition to the GB&L label there is a more recent one indicating that it was part of the collection of John Marshall, well known East Coast collector now deceased. It bears his accession number JHM 4304. In excellent condition it measures 1 ¼ x ¾ x ¾ inch.

NATIVE SILVER WIRE
Ducat Mine (Dukat Mine), Ducat Ore Field, Omsukchan, Ducat District, Kolyma River Basin, Magadanskaya Oblast', Far-Eastern Region, Russia
Collected by the company mining engineer during the early 1980's, this sinuous Native Silver wire is very significant, both for the locality - the Ducat Mine in the remote Kolyma River Basin - as well as for it size and perfection. It is very unusual to see wire Silver from this location; most wire Silvers from this part of the world are from Kazakhstan. If straightened out, the wire would stretch 5 ¾ inches. As it is, the curving form towers over the matrix. The matrix itself is interesting because it is composed of Quartz with an atypical sprinkling of Copper minerals that appear to be Chrysocolla. In addition to the main wire, there are a number of subsidiary wires poking out of the pyramidal matrix giving the piece an extra bit of visual complexity. Condition is excellent. Overall measurements are: 5 inches high by 1 ½ inches wide. The wire is 3/8 inch in diameter where it emerges from the matrix. A custom base is included.

MUSEUM QUALITY PYRITE
Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO Mine), Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department, Peru
The widespread and common occurrence of Pyrite serves to obscure the fact that large and perfect groups of Pyrite crystals are anything but common. As a prominent producer of fine Pyrite specimens, the Quiruvilca Mine in Peru was (during the 1970-1980's) a source of exquisitely beautiful groups of giant, octahedral crystal aggregates such as the one seen here. There are no less than 18 separate octahedrons making up this "Mountain of Fool's Gold". Triangular faces up to 3 inches on edge display an almost infinite number of negative crystal faces, giving the specimen a brilliant scintillating appearance. In addition to the size and perfection of the specimen, it has the prestige of having been part of the Smithsonian Institution Collection and it comes with the original Smithsonian label #147880 to prove it. Accompanied with a custom base, it measures 4 ¾ x 6 ½ x 6 ½ inches.
Provenance: Smithsonian Institution Collection

"CAVE OF COPPER" - SPINEL TWINNED NATIVE COPPER
Chino Mine, Bayard, Santa Rita District, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
"The Cave of Copper" is the informal nickname that this unique copper crystal slab has acquired from the comments of assorted individuals; a few seconds of close inspection will easily support that designation. In the middle of an already notable mass of thousands of Copper crystals is a almond shaped opening sporting two robust spinel twinned copper crystals; looking like a couple of cave formations: one leaning to one side and the other rising up like a bronze stalagmite from the floor of a cave. Closer inspection further reveals a bewildering variety of different crystal growth forms: cubes and octahedrons and "hopper" versions of both of these, along with various other combinations, that are scattered in groups all over the slab. An enlightened Company policy of "rescuing" fine specimens from the ore crusher is the only thing that kept this aesthetic treasure from becoming wire or plumbing or other mundane, but necessary, products. Because it was collected carefully, there is absolutely no damage to this remarkable example of Nature's Art. The "stalagmite" stands some 4 ½ inches high and the entire specimen measures 15 inches high by 12 inches wide and is about 1 inch thick.

HISTORIC NATIVE COPPER : CARNEGIE COLLECTION
Lake Superior District, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA
Like the opening salvo from a volcanic eruption, the branching forms of this historic Native Copper specimen grow broader as it rises into the sky. One can almost visualize lightning bolts flashing within the dark interior. It is not too difficult to understand what it was about this piece that caught, and held, the eye of steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, so many years ago. Thousands of sharply limned crystals the color of old saddle leather with verde-gris accents are literally everywhere on this massive (10 ¼ pounds) metallic plume. There is a small amount of the host matrix on the lower back near the accession number ("161"), but otherwise this is a virtually pure mass of Native Copper. This museum size bit of history comes with a custom acrylic base identifying it as from the Carnegie Collection. There is a photograph of it on his display shelf, as well as a notation in his collection notebook. In excellent condition, it measures 15 ½ inches tall by 6 ½ inches wide by 1 ¼ inches thick. This historic specimen resided in the Carnegie family home, long after his death, until it was sold by Carnegie's granddaughter in 1984. It has resided in a private collection until now.
Provenance: Andrew Carnegie Collection

NATIVE COPPER
Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA
The very renowned collection of Norm & Roz Pelman was home for this fine Michigan Copper for many years and close inspection tells why they prized it so highly. Sharp and large crystals up to 1 ¼ inches across make up the massive specimen and they can be viewed from any direction, including the "bottom". The patina is the subtle "old leather" type that copper specimens acquire with age and proper care. All told, this is a world class Copper for its size. In addition to the Pelman Provenance noted on the Collector's Edge label, there is a note on the obverse of the label "MR Vol. 8, #5 pg 420", presumably a reference to a Mineralogical Record Magazine article involving the specimen. The specimen is in pristine condition and it comes with an attached unobtrusive "back-brace" type of support to give it stability as a freestanding specimen. This fine Native Copper measures 3 ¾ inches tall by 3 ¼ inches wide by 1 5/8 inches deep.

NATIVE BISMUTH ON MOLYBDENITE
Wolfram Camp, Dimbulah, Mareeba Shire, Queensland, Australia
Bismuth, in the metallic form, is a lot less commonly encountered in Nature than metallic Gold, or Silver, for that matter. Here it has formed the core in a "pod" of Molybdenite, the sulfide of Molybdenum. Its polyhedral exterior form may be due to its being crystalline or it may have cooled from the molten state against euhedral Quartz crystals, now removed. X-ray analysis would be able to tell which. The Bismuth "crystal" measures some 2 ½ inches long, 1 ¼+ inches wide and is ¾ inch thick. The metallic luster of the specimen varies from a slightly iridescent one on the Bismuth to a brilliant silver-black on the Molybdenite. In its time it was owned by Ed David, science advisor to President Nixon, and also by noted New York mineral dealer Larry Conklin. Both of their labels accompany the specimen. It bears accession number "259A" on the obverse. The overall dimensions are 4 x 3 x 2 ¾ inches. The condition of this rare specimen is excellent and it comes with a custom base.

MOLYBDENITE
Wolfram Camp, Dimbulah, Mareeba Shire, Queensland, Australia
A single, very large, Molybdenite crystal protruding from the terminal faces of a euhedral Quartz crystal. The Quartz is glassy and has a number of unidentified inclusions in, and on, one of its crystal faces. The Molybdenite displays the characteristic silver-black hue and metallic luster that are normal for this mineral, while the edges of the Molybdenite have the typical "melted" look seen with some frequency with this species. Ex Gene Meieran collection accompanied by a Meieran label (RN 12). A custom base is included with this specimen that measures 5 ½ inches long by 3 ½ inches wide by 4 inches deep. It is in fine condition.

STIBNITE "FLOWERS" ON MATRIX
Nanping, Nandan, Guanxi Province, People's Republic of China
Imagine a black & white negative of a fireworks finale. Or a herd of sea-urchins in a quiet, sandy lagoon. One can even see this sharply defined tableau for what it is: a random grouping of spherical radiating Stibnite crystal groups implanted on cream colored limestone. The number of interpretations possible when viewing this creation is limited only by the imagination of the viewer. The facts of the piece are that it is from an Antimony Mine near Nanping in Guanxi Province, China. Stibnite, the sulfide of Antimony was deposited, by hot Antimony and Sulfur bearing water onto the walls of a limestone fissure, in delicate, needlelike prisms. The luster of the Stibnite is the dark silver tone that this mineral often exhibits and the off-white limestone displays a contrasting matte surface. In fine condition, this visual puzzle promises to enchant beholders for years to come. It measures 11 ½ inches wide by 9 inches high by 2 ½ inches deep.

RICH BLUE HEMIMORPHITE
Wenshan Mine, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
Hemimorphite from the Wenshan (Wen Mountain) Mine often contains enough copper to tint the normally colorless Hemimorphite a rich Robin's Egg blue. Hemimorphite is a zinc silicate with considerable value as an ore of that very useful metal: Zinc. Zinc is used in everything from automobile grilles to the core of the ubiquitous "copper" penny. Viewed from the front, the entire display surface is made up of "bubbles" of radiating, spherical groups of turquoise Hemimorphite densely packed in a single layer. There are a couple of small "bruises" but nothing of any consequence. The back side is a mixture of orange limestone wall rock and Hemimorphite filled fissures. With a custom labeled base, it measures 6 x 6 x 2 inches and is in fine condition.

CHRYSOCOLLA
Inspiration Mine, San Manuel, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
This ex-Smithsonian specimen is typical of the fine "jelly" variety of Chrysocolla that was mined many years ago at the Inspiration Mine. A translucent deep turquoise Chrysocolla "frosting" overcoats radiating, dark green chatoyant sprays of Malachite needles. Several areas where the Chrysocolla was removed offer a glimpse into the Malachite core of these epimorphs. On the back side are several areas of "gem" Chrysocolla suitable for cabochons. The specimen comes with its Smithsonian label, has a custom labeled base and measures 2 ¾ x 2 1/8 x 1 ¼ inches.
Provenance: Smithsonian collection

MALACHITE
Shilu Mine, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang Prefecture, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
There is something visually fascinating about the surface of this Malachite. With the possible exception of its deep green color, the surface luster and the organically irregular folding of the surface look very much like the skin of an exotic alien animal, patiently waiting to unfold and flow smoothly away. Luster such as this is rarely seen because it is very difficult for the unskilled miners who collect these specimens to protect them from damage during removal and transport. In this case they were successful, or lucky. The unique velvety luster is the result of millions of radiating Malachite needles seen end on. On the back of the specimen it is possible to view the same needles from the side, which produces a silky, chatoyant type of luster quite different from the top surface. Since Malachite is pure copper carbonate, it is considered to be extremely high-grade copper ore. If it were not for these miners, this specimen would now be about $2 worth of copper wire in an electric motor somewhere. This Malachite is in pristine condition and measures 4 ½ x 3 ½ x 2 inches.

BLUE ANHYDRITE & WHITE CALCITE
Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico
"Subtle Cool" is a good descriptor for this pastel blue confection. A multitude of randomly arranged blades of powder-blue Anhydrite are coyly peeking out from a "frosting" of colorless Dog-Tooth Spar, as this type of Calcite is known. The Anhydrite is unusually pure in color - a clean sky-blue without a hint of grey. This is the largest and best piece to emerge to date, and features a complete 5-inch radial flower of sky blue Anhydrites on one end. Far larger than most groupings of Anhydrite, it is also in far better condition than most specimens, with no distracting "dings" to detract from extended contemplation. Worthy of inclusion in any museum collection, this sizable Mexican treasure measures 10 x 7 ½ x 3 ½ inches.

FLUORAPOPHYLLITE ON STILBITE
Jalgaon, Jalgaon District, Maharashtra, India
A classic Indian Zeolite vug containing some very large (2 ¼ inches) Fluorapophyllite crystals of the rare green color variant. This color is due to minute traces of Vanadium in the Apophyllite crystal latice and is encountered only infrequently. The razor-sharp, pyramidal Fluorapophyllite crystals are surrounded by peach colored groups of Stilbite: another of the Zeolite group of minerals. This pristine natural cavity is a sizable 9 inches high by 7 inches wide and 5 ½ inches deep. It comes with its own custom base for display.

EXCEEDINGLY LARGE & FINE AQUAMARINE CRYSTAL
Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
As a source area for exotic gem materials, you can't get more "interesting" than the Northern Areas of Pakistan. In addition to chronically angry tribal groups, there is always the spectre of: bad weather; bad water; avalanches of snow, rock and ice; and the occasional hail of bullets. Nevertheless, for mineral seekers, it doesn't get any better than here. The exceptionally large and exquisitely formed gem crystals found here are why. This huge hexagonal pillar is the color of old glacial ice: a cool blue halfway between powder blue and turquoise. Numerous areas of the crystal are transparent enough to be facetted. Other areas have veil type inclusions that look like wisps of smoke drifting through this limpid prism. There are traces of the original Feldspar matrix on the bottom of this hefty monster, while the top displays a single lustrous planar termination. The back side shows signs of concurrent growth with other giant crystals that are no longer present. Other than very minor nicking of some edges the overall condition is superb, particularly for a specimen of this size. This museum size specimen measures an impressive 9 ¾ inches high by 4 inches across, without its base. Accompanied by a custom labeled acrylic base.

AQUAMARINE ON MATRIX
Nagar, Hunza Valley, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Notable for its artistic parallel growth habit is this interesting pair of Aquamarine prisms that are actually one crystal. This can be determined by observing the reflections of a single light source off of the crystal faces: corresponding faces light up at the same time, showing that they are co-planar and therefore part of the same crystal. Besides the crystallographic interest feature, the specimen is also a very nice example of gem quality Aquamarine, especially since it is daintily perched upon a matrix of white Clevelandite blades. There are some oriented "silk" type inclusions near the base of the Aquamarine and some complex multiple faces on the back side. The condition is excellent and the luster is brilliant. The specimen comes with a custom labeled acrylic base and measures 2 1/8 x 1 7/8 x 1 inch.

PHLOGOPITE: RARE MINERAL
Pein Pyit, Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Myanmar (Burma)
Among the weird and fascinating suite of minerals found in the Ruby tracts of Myanmar (Burma), are some very fine examples of the Mica group, of which Phlogopite is one. Members of the Mica group are only rarely collected solely on their own merits. Usually their participation is limited to a supporting role as "associated' minerals. This is chiefly due to their normally two-dimensional form. Very rarely, Micas such as Phlogopite will crystallize in shapes with a pronounced third dimension. Here that property results in flat-topped pyramidal shapes that are enormous for what they are. Even more intriguing: they are transparent in cross-section with a "root-beer" brown coloration when back-lit. Transparency across the c-axis is a rarely observed phenomenon in Micas. Also unusual is the association of dark, blue-violet Spinel crystals scattered through the cream-colored matrix: Spinels are rare enough in their own right to be considered valuable gemstones. The specimen features two very sizable Phlogopite crystals with numerous smaller ones as well. The Phlogopites are in excellent condition with no observable damage. The largest Phlogopite measures an impressive 5 inches on edge and is approximately 3 inches in diameter. The overall measurements are 6 ½ x 5 x 4 inches and it has a custom labeled acrylic stand.

LARGE SELENITE CRYSTAL
"Cave of Swords", Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico
The recent discovery of a Mexican cavern lined with giant Selenite prisms the size of telephone poles was publicized widely by National Geographic. What is not commonly known is that this cave, dubbed "The Cueva de Los Cristales", is not the only one encountered by the workings of the Naica Mine of Chihuahua, Mexico. Many years before the latest discovery, the mine workings intersected what was called "The Cave of Swords". This cave was lined with smaller but otherwise similar crystals of Selenite: the transparent, crystalline form of Gypsum. Unlike the most recent discovery, the miners removed the Selenite and many ended up in museums and private collections. The "sword" featured here is typical for ones recovered during that earlier operation. It is about 3 ½ feet tall and shows the golden lateral inclusions that are characteristic of material from that find. The termination is a complex, distorted one instead of the more typical "fish-tail" one. Luster is also typical; halfway between glassy and satin. The interior is transparent in the colorless sections and warmly translucent in the golden areas. As is normal for crystals of this age and size; there is a certain amount of nicking and bruising, but overall the condition is very good. This "sword" stands ready and waiting to provide dramatic accents to an entrance or foyer. It measures an impressive 41 x 6 x 4 inches and comes with a massive custom acrylic base.

RHODOCHROSITE - PORCELAIN POCKET
Porcelain Pocket, Fluorite Raise, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Park Co., Colorado, USA
Operating an underground mine chiefly for specimens is one of the riskier business ventures one can indulge in. The Rhodochrosite recovery operations conducted by Bryan Lees at the Sweet Home Mine, probably represent the epitome of successful specimen mining. A significant number of world class specimens were carefully collected over the few years that the project was in operation. As each individual "pocket" was encountered, it was named and specimens were given unique inventory numbers, allowing owners to tell exactly where and when their specimen was recovered. The matrix Rhodochrosite specimen seen here was found in the Porcelain Pocket: a cavity reached via the Fluorite "Raise" - the mining term for an ascending shaft excavated from the bottom upwards. Larger than most Sweet Home Rhodochrosite specimens, the plate is liberally covered with well over 100 hot-pink to red, transparent rhombs. Scattered between the "Rhodo's" are a number of needle-like Quartz prisms and an occasional black pyramid of Tetrahedrite. The plate is in excellent condition with very minor "contact" to a couple of crystals. It measures a sizable 9 inches wide by 7 inches high by 2 ¾ inches thick. Comes with a custom acrylic base.

MANGANOAN CALCITE
2nd Sovietskii Mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
The Calcites of Dal'negorsk are justly famous for both size and their perfection of form. This beautiful example lives up to that reputation on both counts. The main Calcite crystal is a huge tabular hexagon some 6 inches across. The color is an intriguing mix of pale pink interior hue showing through "windows" in a very light tan exterior that defies description. Luster is a "satin" one due to the myriad of microscopic, parallel faces that make up the surfaces of the larger faces. Luster is decidedly not a matte type, but something quite subtly different. Smaller subsidiary crystals are distributed sparsely over the metallic gray Galena matrix with an occasional brassy Chalcopyrite crystal. The specimen glows a nice pink under UV as would be expected given its Manganoan character. It measures 8 inches wide by 6 ¼ inches high by 5 inches deep and is in excellent condition.
Provenance: Robert Nowakowski collection with his accession number "RN 258"

LARGE DEMANTOID GARNET GROUP IN MATRIX - A NEW FIND
Antetezambato, Ambanja Area, Antsiranana Region, Madagascar
"Demantoid" is defined as a variety of Andradite Garnet possessing an extremely high refractive index and dispersion. What this means to the connoisseur of gems and gem materials, is that stones cut from this material display an unbelievable level of "fire"; normally seen only in its namesake Diamond. This stunningly large and fine matrix specimen is the product of recent discoveries in Madagascar. It is quite notable for the following reasons: 1. the Demantoid crystals are exceptionally large, well formed and lustrous for this species; 2. the color is the wonderful medium green that showcases the "fire" of cut stones at their finest; and 3. there are tens of excellent crystals perched upon an attractive matrix, instead of the one or two typically seen in matrix Demantoid specimens. This very large matrix group measures 5 ½ inches high by 4 ¾ inches wide by 2 ¾ inches thick. The largest crystal measures ¾ inch across and it has a custom labeled acrylic base.

DEMANTOID GARNET IN MATRIX
Antetezambato, Ambanja Area, Antsiranana Region, Madagascar
Occasionally, a mineral specimen appears that seems "made to order". Such treasures look to be the product of conscious design instead of random chance growth. This is one of those artistic masterpieces. The adjective "Killer" is heavily overused by marketing wonks, but in this case it probably understates the situation by an order of magnitude. Everything about this small treasure is exceptional: the size of the crystals (up to ¾ inch), the color (a lovely green with hints of blue), the arrangement (crystals perched upon a finger of contrasting, white matrix), and finally the luster (as glassy and lustrous as it gets for this mineral). In short, this is a one-of-a-kind specimen that is destined to be remembered for years by knowledgeable collectors who understand how rare and desirable it is. From a new find in Madagascar, overall measurements are 3 inches high by 1 ½ inches wide by 1 ¼ inches thick and the largest crystal is ¾ inch across. It mounts on a custom labeled acrylic base.

EPIDOTE
Tormiq Valley, Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Up until the last ten years or so the Epidote specimens from the Untersulzbachtal in Austria went unchallenged as the finest in the world. Since that time, an occasional crystal group would escape from the remote Haramosh Mountains of Baltistan that is easily the equal of the Austrian material. The form is almost identical with the individual crystals arranged in planar sub-parallel groups. The luster is glassy, just like the Austrian material, and the crystals are transparent, showing pronounced pleochroism: changing from olive green when illuminated along one direction to a root-beer brown color along another. There are a few broken crystals among the myriad making up the group but they are all minor in nature and somewhat difficult to locate without close inspection. Since the exhaustion of the Austrian locality, all of the better examples of this desirable mineral come from this part of the world. In excellent condition, it measures 7 ½ x 4 ½ x 1 ½ inches. There are two custom labeled bases to allow different display options.

SCOLECITE
Pune District (Poonah District), Maharashtra, India
One of the paradoxes of the mineral collecting world revolves around a group of minerals with similar chemistries called Zeolites. The supply of low grade specimens is seemingly bottomless. In spite of that, the number of fine to excellent examples, like this Scolecite on matrix are extremely limited. A radiating group of colorless Scolecite prisms form a hemispherical group nestled into an elongate cavity lined with cream colored Stilbite crystals. The Scolecite "ball" stretches some 4 inches across. It is completely undamaged and very striking in appearance. The matrix is the typical massive basalt. It measures 9 inches by 6 inches by 1 ¾ inches and has a custom labeled base.

"BUTTERFLY" AMETHYST SCULPTURE
Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Region, Brazil
Like butterfly wings caught in motion, this pair of Amethyst geodes has been suspended on a custom chrome steel mount to give the illusion of a butterfly caught in stone. The geodes have large, deep-purple Amethyst crystals and the edges have been hand-polished to accent the colorful Amethyst and Agate rim. Additionally, the left geode is highlighted by clusters of white Calcite crystals. Both geode halves are in excellent condition and are completely natural, with no cement fill or paint, unlike most of the Amethyst geodes on the market today. Overall measurements are 32 inches wide x 6 inches deep x 48 inches high; each geode half measures 31 ½ x 16 x 5 ½ inches and 31 ½ x 14 x 5 ½ inches respectively. In excellent condition.

LARGE BUTTERFLY RAINBOW OBSIDIAN
Mexico
Of what, apart from the meteorological phenomenon with which it shares its name, is rainbow obsidian most suggestive? A butterfly, of course, with the infinite variety of delicate colors, flowing together and arranged in such sinuous harmony as could only be a product of nature in its element. The lapidarist's art is superbly displayed here as, with the greatest skill, the rock-carver has chipped away at the surface of the rough stone to produce a beautifully symmetrical arrangement of the natural flowing lines of gold, green, blue and purple that course through this otherwise pitch-black volcanic glass. Polished to a lustrous finish, it is a lovely and evocative object, measuring 9 x 7 1/8 x 1 5/8 inches.

RAINBOW OBSIDIAN FREEFORM
Mexico
Caused by the swift cooling of volcanic lava, obsidian is not in fact a mineral but a form of glass, with no true crystals. The cooling is so rapid - even from the typical temperatures between 780 and 820 Celsius - that true crystals have insufficient time to form; in some instances however the similarly-structured crystallites, or grains, orient parallel to the flow structure creating the ghostly colored banding suggestive of a rainbow. Shimmering seemingly just below the surface of this beautiful and highly polished freeform are visible shades of purple, green and gold, and the piece has been artfully carved to highlight the lovely concentric patterning in this natural volcanic glass, measuring 4¾ x 4 1/8 x 1 5/8 inches.

HISTORIC VARISCITE NODULE
Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Oquirrh Mtns., Utah Co., Utah, USA
This historic Variscite nodule, from the now mined-out Clay Canyon locality of Utah, contains the rare phosphate: Montgomeryite. It was part of the eponymous Dr. Arthur Montgomery's personal collection. Dr. Montgomery (1909-1999) was the renowned mineralogist and Professor of Geology who was responsible for initially discovering the mineral, subsequently named in his honor, from this type-locality. In addition to Variscite and Montgomeryite, this specimen contains other rare phosphates: Gordonite, Crandallite,Wardite and Millisite. Rich lime-green Variscite contrasts strongly with the yellow Crandallite in this classic example. Both the slab and the nodule end are extremely well polished and in fine condition. The slab measures 6 x 6 x ½ inches thick and the matching end cut measures 6 x 5 ¾ x 1 ¼ inches thick at its deepest point.
Provenance: Dr. Arthur Montgomery collection

HEXAGONAL RUBY CRYSTAL IN ZOISITE
Tanzania
This large ruby crystal in zoisite matrix is peppered with black horneblend. When zoisite is blue and of gem quality, it is referred to as tanzanite. When the ruby and zoisite is translucent to opaque (not of gem quality) - such as the specimen offered here - such material is typically used for beads and carvings. Ruby is extremely hard and must be cut with a diamond blade. The ruby in zoisite combination is among the more striking natural pairings of the mineral world - there is nothing else like it. A further embellishment - and one witnessed here - is a ruby that is chatoyant (a three-dimensional reflectance effect caused by the fibrous structure of the matrix). This is a select representation of an articulated hexagonal ruby in zoisite measuring 3 ½ x 4 x 4 inches and weighs 4.5 pounds.

UNUSUAL GEM CRYSTAL: IRIDESCENT GARNET
Kouse Magnetite Mine, Tenkawa, Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, Japan
This is an excellent example of a very rare phenomena: natural iridescence. Research on these Japanese Andradite Garnet crystals shows that the iridescence is caused by two different types of lamellar structures which cause thin-film interference and diffraction of light. The combination of these two optical effects creates the striking iridescence observed in this rainbow Andradite, rivaling the phenomenal colors of the finest Labradorite from Finland and, in some cases, resembling Ethiopian Opals. Collecting iridescent Garnets from this locality is now prohibited and these crystals are becoming scarce. This specimen is a larger euhedral crystal, with polished faces, that measures 9.1 x 10.6 x 9.0 mm and weighs 10.83 carats.

LARGE OCTAHEDRAL DIAMOND CRYSTAL
Kimberley Mining District, South Africa
The discovery of Diamonds in South Africa in 1866 prompted a massive mining and marketing boom that gave rise to the modern Diamond market. In its heyday, the Kimberley mining district produced over ninety percent of the world's Diamonds. Today, South Africa is still responsible for a significant portion of global Diamond production. The Diamonds are found only in a rare type of volcanic rock called Kimberlite that form narrow vertical channels called "Pipes". The ore from the Kimberlite pipes is crushed to a uniform size to release the raw Diamonds from the matrix rock; during this process larger Diamonds can be broken, making this specimen somewhat unusual, as it is a large Diamond crystal with a classic octahedral form. It weighs 27.95 carats, has typical adamantine luster and measures 19 mm top to bottom and 14 mm across the points.

YELLOW DIAMOND CRYSTAL
Kimberley Mining District, South Africa
Diamonds have an extremely rigid lattice structure, so they can only be colored by chemical impurities and/or structural defects. Nitrogen will color Diamonds yellow, while traces of Boron will color them blue. All other Diamond colors are caused by lattice defects: structural anomalies caused by deformation during crystal growth or exposure to varying levels of radiation. This Diamond crystal is a light yellow; indicating that it is a Type Ia. When Nitrogen replaces an occasional carbon atom in the structure, then that Nitrogen is dispersed throughout the stone, can cause the blue component of daylight to be adsorbed, resulting in a Type Ia crystal that transmits and appears - yellow. This small, gemmy yellow diamond crystal weighs 1.09 carats and overall measures 6 mm from point to point and 4.5 mm on each side.

RARE STONE: DEMANTOID GARNET - ROUGH & CUT SET
Tetezambato (Antetezambato), Ambanja District, Diana (Northern) Region, Antsiranana Province, Madagascar
Demantoid is a variety of Andradite Garnet with an extremely high refractive index and dispersion, just like it's namesake: Diamond. Hence, Demantoid Garnets display an unbelievable level of "fire" as demonstrated in this unusual rough and cut set from the new Madagascar discovery. The gem crystal is light green, euhedral, almost complete and has good transparency. With characteristic habit and color, this gem crystal measures 9.4 x 9.0 x 9.2 mm. The companion emerald-cut gemstone is a light olive green, bright & lively, has good dispersion, is quite clean with minor inclusions, and measures 9 x 5 mm. Both in fine condition.

RARE STONE: CHRYSOBERYL - ROUGH & CUT SET
Tanzania
Chrysoberyl is a rare mineral which is distinguished by its extreme hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. The only gemstones harder than Chrysoberyl are Corundum (Ruby & Sapphire) and Diamond. A relatively rare mineral, Chrysoberyl is even rarer as a gemstone. This rough and cut set consists of a single Chrysoberyl crystal that is a thin blade, quite clean with an unusual diagonal termination - it measures 17.0 x 9.6 mm. The matching gemstone is a classic 1.45 carat emerald cut, eye-clean, with a pleasing peridot green color and measures 9 x 5 mm. Both the Chrysoberyl specimen and gemstone are in fine condition.

RARE STONE: WULFENITE - ROUGH & CUT SET
Erupción Mine (Ahumada Mine), Los Lamentos Mts (Sierra de Los Lamentos), Mun. de Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico
One of the world's most renowned Wulfenite localities is Los Lamentos, Mexico. This unusual rough and cut set features a specimen of typical banded, caramel-candy Wulfenite, whose crystals are instantly recognizable as being from this classic locality. There is one primary crystal and a smaller, secondary side crystal on this thumbnail specimen and overall it measures 17.8 x 9 x 12.4 mm. Accompanying it is a very rare and unusual facetted Wulfenite - a relatively clean, bright and lively gemstone that has been cut as an asymmetric trillion of medium orange color. This scarce Wulfenite gemstone weighs 1.48 carats and measures approximately 6 mm in the longest direction. Both are in fine condition, especially given the softness of the mineral.

BLACK STAR SAPPHIRE
India
This black star Sapphire exhibits a prominent 6-ray star that is dark golden in reflection. Under the correct lighting conditions, a second star becomes evident and creates a 12-ray star. 12-ray stars rare because they are the product of two interpenetrating crystals. This sizable oval cabochon measures 32.8 x 27.6 mm and weighs 160.86 carats. There are some natural pits on the backside, as well as a minor amount of fill, but none of this is visible from the top of the gemstone.

NATURAL "YING YANG" AGATE CABOCHON
Brazil
The patterning in this unusual cabochon is completely natural - two contrasting curving bands forming a natural "yin and yang" symbol in orange and colorless Agate. Representing the duality of Nature: the positive-negative, male-female, good-evil, black-white polarities found in the world. Native cut and polished, the miners obviously recognized this symbol as soon as the Agate was exposed and fashioned this 21.7 mm round gemstone that weighs 20.81 carats.

SAPPHIRE
Sri Lanka
Sapphire is gem Corundum with excellent hardness - 9 on the Mohs scale. Indeed Sapphire's hardness is exceeded only by that of the Diamond. This light powder blue gemstone is from Sri Lanka and is a nice clean stone, excellent for evening wear in particular. It is a cushion cut weighing 6.88 carats and measuring 10.2 x 11.5 mm. This bright gemstone is free from zoning, has a very tiny nick in the girdle, but is otherwise in fine condition.

RUBY
Myanmar (Burma)
This large cushion cut Ruby is from the classic locality of Burma, now known as Myanmar. It has been native cut for maximal yield and has good, deep, truly red color, with faint, underlying purple tones. Considered one of the most precious of gemstones (along with Sapphire, Emerald & Diamond), Ruby has been highly prized through the ages because of its singular, bright red color. Overall this Ruby is slightly sleepy, has a tiny pit type inclusion in an upper pavilion facet but is otherwise in fine condition. It measures 12.0 x 9.1 mm and weighs 4.68 carats.

EMERALD
Brazil
Emeralds from Brazil's Nova Era mine are not as famous as their Colombian cousins, but Brazilian mines also produce Emeralds in beautiful green tones such as this gemstone. It is a good medium green color, somewhat included (typical for Emeralds) and facetted as an oval gem that measures 15.3 x 10.3 mm and weighs 6.23 carats. In fine condition with the exception of a very small surface pit type inclusion and a few black carbon spots, neither of which are consequential.

KUNZITE
Afghanistan
Kunzite was named after George F. Kunz, prominent gemologist and mineralogist long associated with Tiffany. He is considered to be the foremost expert and promoter of gemstones and minerals of his time. In his honor, Kunzite is the name given to the pink variety of Spodumene. This large pear shape Kunzite is eye-clean with a light to medium lilac color. It is well polished - a very bright and lively gemstone that measures an impressive 23.0 x 13.0 mm, weighs 23.66 carats and is in excellent condition.

CUPRIAN ("PARAIBA") TOURMALINE: RARE LILAC COLOR
Mozambique
"Paraiba Tourmaline" is an acceptable trade name for cuprian Tourmaline regardless of the source. This cuprian Tourmaline could have the nomenclature "Paraiba" applied to it. It is a warm lilac color, unusual for Tourmaline, fairly clean with a few needle and veil type inclusions, it is a well cut 29.4 x 15.5 mm cushion that weighs 26.46 carats.

UNUSUAL GEMSTONE: COLOR CHANGE SPINEL
Sri Lanka
Color change gemstones are very unusual - depending on the type of light the gemstone is exposed to, a different color is perceived by the viewer. This Spinel has a distinct color change from blue to amethystine-purple depending on the light. Color change is rare in Spinels and more commonly found in Chrysoberyl (Alexandrite), Garnets and Sapphires. Color change gems have two approximately equal sized transmission windows which causes it to appear blue when the light is rich in blue wavelengths (e.g., fluorescent light) and red when the light is rich in red wavelengths (e.g., incandescent lighting). This rare gemstone has minor zoning, minor level of pinpoint inclusions, but otherwise is in fine condition. It is a facetted oval that measures 13.4 x 10.0 mm and weighs 6.76 carats.

GREEN TOURMALINE
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
This exceptional mint green Tourmaline is from an unusual source country: the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire. The color is quite even and it is unusual in that it is open on the c-axis, which is uncommon for most Tourmalines. Excellent workmanship is evident throughout this well facetted emerald-cut 24.41 carat gemstone, which measures 24.3 x 11.9 mm. In excellent condition.

YELLOW TOURMALINE: UNUSUAL COLOR
Malawi
Yellow is one of the rarer colors of Tourmaline, as exemplified by this pear shaped Tourmaline gemstone with an unusual golden Heliodor color. It has a number of needle and veil type inclusions, quite common for Tourmaline, and otherwise is a bright and lively stone. It measures 14.3 x 18.6 mm and weighs a sizable 11.86 carats. In fine condition.

HELIODOR
Brazil
Heliodor is a golden yellow or golden green variety of Beryl. In the gem world "Golden Beryl" is the other name for Heliodor. The name was derived from Greek for "gift from the sun." Like its cousins Aquamarine (blue Beryl) and Emerald (green Beryl), Heliodor is a fairly hard stone at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. This large gemstone is eye clean with medium golden yellow color. It is bright and lively with a fairly deep pavilion, making it more suitable as a pendant stone. This fine pear shaped gem measures 29.6 x 20.7 mm and weighs a hefty 54.37 carats.

IOLITE
Tanzania
Iolite has been highly prized for centuries - Viking explorers used thin pieces of Iolite as polarizing filters to determine the exact position of the Sun when navigating the seas. Iolite is pleocroic - it reveals different colors when the crystal is viewed from different directions. This property may have been helpful in navigation but makes faceting Iolite difficult as it must be oriented in exactly the right direction before cutting, for the gemstone to appear at its best. This oval gemstone with a pineapple crown has good brilliance and is well cut. It is fairly large for an Iolite with light, even blue-violet color and a number of veil type inclusions. It measures 20.5 x 14.4 mm, weighs 14.09 carats and is in very fine condition.

TIFFANY-STYLE AGATE SLICE LAMPSHADE
This bronzed tree-form lamp features an agate slice shade in the copperfoil Tiffany style, designed to resemble stained glass, with "windows" of agate slices. The slices are chosen for their dyed rainbow variety of complementary colors, in bottle green, turquoise, orange, jasper red and all shades in between. These translucent slices of agate flash with an inner fire when the lamp is illuminated. This decorative hand-made lampshade measures 16 1/4 inches in diameter and the complete lamp stands 31 inches tall.

LAMP WITH MODERN RUBY-IN-ZOISITE SHADE ON AN ARTS & CRAFTS PERIOD HANDEL LAMP BASE
One of the more beautiful utilitarian examples of natural history, this is a custom leaded shade of sliced ruby in zoisite fitted on a period Handel lamp base. The most popular lamps of the Art Nouveau and the Art Deco periods were Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint during which time the Handel Company produced the finest reverse-painted lampshades. In June 1903, Handel commenced production of their own lamp bases-and the bronze base with custom foot offered here is one such example. The leaded ruby in zoisite lampshade is a marvel of modern craftsmanship. The ruby is cut with a diamond saw to a close tolerance for maximum translucency. Only select ruby crystals suffice; it's not infrequent that material has to be scrapped because of crystal irregularities that only become apparent after several slices have been made. This is a highly decorative example combining the old and new and the natural. The lamp shade measures 10 inches in diameter and this exceedingly well-crafted lamp stands 16 inches tall.

CYLINDRICAL ONYX LAMP
Handcrafted in Mexico
Stone source: Mexico
The rich golden-orange Travertine Onyx used for this lamp, has bold, contrasting rings and stripes of stark white, creating "clouds" and "flowers" throughout the stone. When lit, this unusual lamp glows and the patterns spring to life. It is an impressive 24 inches tall, 9 ¾ inches in diameter and is completely wired for immediate use. Handcrafted by artisans in Mexico, the stone for this aesthetic lamp was hand selected for its bold, strong pattern. It is in very fine condition.

SPIRALING ONYX LAMP
Handcrafted in Mexico
Stone source: Mexico
This unusual lamp is a spiraling sculpture fashioned from light green Calcite (Travertine Onyx) that is interlaced with strongly colored areas of rich orange ochre, as well as contrasting bands of black and grey. There is a marked shift in tone between when the lamp is viewed in natural light versus when it glows with its interior light. Well crafted by Mexican artisans, it is 19 ¾ inches tall and 9 ¾ inches in diameter, and is in fine condition.

TIGER-EYE BALD EAGLES ON SMOKY QUARTZ
Artist: Peter Müller
Stone Source: South Africa, Brazil & Worldwide
A mated pair of Bald Eagles are perched on a large Smoky Quartz crystal that is erupting from a white and silvery Albite & Mica base. They have been carved from chatoyant, golden Tiger-Eye and have Agate beaks, red Coral tongues, Amber eyes and snow-white Quartz heads and tails. They are gripping the smoky Quartz crystal with gold-plated sterling silver talons. One eagle has his wings outspread as if he is just landing - he is 8 inches tall, has a wingspread of 7 ½ inches and measures 6 ½ inches from beak to tail. He is being greeted by his mate, who is 6 ¾ inches long and 2 ½ inches wide. She has her beak open as if making a comment to her arriving partner. Extremely well carved, with details down to the pinfeathers, this impressive carving stands 17 ½ inches high, is 12 ¾ inches wide and over 10 inches deep, on an acrylic base. It is in fine condition and bears the artist Peter Müller's unique collection number "8975".

AMAZONITE MACAW FAMILY ON QUARTZ
Artist: Peter Müller
Stone Source: Madagascar, Brazil & Worldwide
Three life-like Macaws are situated on a cluster of three Quartz crystals. They are composed of extremely fine, uniform teal-blue Amazonite. In addition; they possess Garnet beaks and eyes, Coral tongues, white Marble facial patches, and gold-plated sterling silver feet. The first bird, with its wings folded, is 9 ½ inches long and 2 ¼ inches wide. He is greeting the other two birds who are landing with their wings outspread. The one that has his head cocked slightly, as if listening to the greeting, is 10 inches from head to tail with a 6 ¾ inch wingspan. The third Macaw is showing off his treasure: a pink Tourmaline crystal clutched in one foot while he is landing on the other - he is 9 ¾ inches long and also has a 6 ¾ inch wingspan. The overall sculpture measures an impressive 19 ½ inches high, 15 ½ inches wide and 8 inches deep and has an acrylic base that measures 7 ½ x 6 ¾ x 1 ¾ inches. Overall condition is very fine and it bears Peter Müller's unique collection number "8631".

GEM RHODOCHROSITE MACAWS ON ROCK CRYSTAL
Artist: Peter Müller
Stone Source: Argentina & Brazil
Carved from top quality, gem-grade Rhodochrosite, these two deep red Macaws are perched on a water-clear Quartz crystal cluster. Rhodochrosite with this level of transparency and depth of color is extremely rare and highly valued. The scarlet Macaws are deep in conversation and both measure 4 5/8 inches long and 1-inch wide. They have Garnet eyes and beaks, gold-plated sterling silver feet, and the mirror bright Quartz cluster is resting on a contrasting black Obsidian base. Lapidary master Peter Müller has created a jewel of a carving that stands 7 ¾ inches high, 4 inches wide and 3 ¼ inches deep. In pristine condition, it bears his unique collection number "8838".

AFRICAN GREY PARROTS ON RUBELLITE TOURMALINE
Artist: Peter Müller
Stone Source: Brazil & Worldwide
This extremely life-like pair of African Grey Parrots have been carved out of phantom-included Quartz, which gives their bodies a shimmering grey coloration. They both have vivid pink Rhodonite tails, black Onyx beaks, yellow Citrine eyes, white Quartz feather accent areas and gold-plated sterling silver feet. One is 4 ¼ inches long, and the other is 4 ½ inches long; both are 1 5/8 inches wide. These life-partners have been caught in animated conversation and are standing on a deep-pink Tourmaline that has been secured to a stacked plinth of colorless Quartz that measures 3 ½ inches on a side. The overall sculpture stands 7 7/8 inches high and is 4 inches wide. It bears Peter Müller's unique collection number "8978" and is in very fine condition.

STATELY PEREGRINE FALCON ON TOURMALINE BASE
Artist: Peter Müller
Stone Source: Brazil, Madagascar & Worldwide
This robust Peregrine Falcon as been carved from black Obsidian, white Quartz and well patterned Ocean Jasper from Madagascar. He has an Agate beak, Garnet eyes, a Coral tongue, and gold-plated sterling silver talons. Master lapidary artist Peter Müller has placed him on a substantial Tourmaline and Albite base - the deep green Tourmaline is 5 inches in diameter and contrasts strongly with the glistening white Albite. With fine detailing down to the pin feathers, the Peregrine appears to be calling to its mate. He measures a hefty 10 inches long and 3 5/8 inches across. The overall sculpture has a Granite plinth base, stands 15 ½ inches high, 11 ½ inches wide and is 7 ½ inches deep. In very fine condition, it bears his unique collection number "8821".

FUCHSITE PARROTS ON QUARTZ CRYSTALS
Artist: Peter Müller
Stone Source: Sweden, Brazil & Worldwide
As if engaged in a mating ritual, these two deep green and white parrots have been carved by master lapidary artist Peter Müller from Fuchsite: a rare Chromium bearing Mica. Both are accented with Garnet eyes, Agate beaks and gold-plated sterling silver feet. They are standing on a cluster of clear Quartz crystals, and overall this fine sculpture measures 12 inches high, 9 ½ inches wide and 5 ½ inches deep. The first parrot measures 7 inches long and is 3 inches wide, while the other parrot is 6 5/8 inches long and 2 ½ inches wide. The carving is extremely detailed, down to the pinfeathers, and bears the artist's unique collection number "8891".

FINE FLUORITE BOWL
Mexico
This beautiful bowl was carved from gorgeous translucent purple fluorite. The sides display almost complete clarity whilst in pleasing contrast the base is filled with clouds of crystal growth. Shading to a lovely soft mauve color towards the gently undulating edges, it is of slightly irregular ovalular form and measures 8 3/8 x 6 x 2¾ inches.

TIDEPOOL DENIZENS CAPTURED IN RUBY & ZOISITE
Mundarara Mine, Longido, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
Extracted from a single block of Ruby and Zoisite is a tidepool scene captured in stone: Ruby starfish, pectin shell & coral are complimented by a Zoisite turritella shell and fronds of seaweed. The sculpture is extremely well carved, creating an excellent three dimensional effect with the purple red of the Ruby contrasting strongly with the green of the Zoisite. It has been carved so that it can be viewed from 360 degrees and sits on a custom wood base. Overall dimensions are 2 7/8 x 2 ½ x 1 ½ inches.

FINE RHODOCHROSITE BOX
Handcrafted in Italy
Stone source: Argentina
The lacy, "flower" patterning of the Rhodochrosite in this gem box indicates that it was fashioned from a mass of intergrown stalactites from the famed mines of Catamarca, Argentina. Ranging in color from pale pink to deep, transparent raspberry red, there are hundreds of "eyes" formed by the concentric growth rings of the stalactites. Rhodochrosite from this premiere locality is getting harder to obtain and this box was fashioned from an exceptionally large piece of rough. It measures 5 7/8 x 4 1/16 x 1 ½ inches, has a black Onyx interior, gold-plated furniture and is in fine condition.

BRIGHT GREEN MALACHITE BOX
Handcrafted in Italy
Stone source: Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
This exceptional green Malachite box has strong stalactitic patterning - bands of light and dark green in concentric circles are on all sides of this classic gem box. The large bands indicate that the Malachite came from a substantial stalactite from the famed copper mines of the Katanga Copper Crescent of the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire. Centered on the top is a very large and prominent "bulls-eye" which was so large that the pattern continues on the adjacent sides of the box - it is over 8 inches in diameter. Overall measurements of the box are 5 x 3 3/8 x 1½ inches. It has a black Onyx interior and bottom and features gold-plated furniture. Handcrafted by master Italian artisan, this box is in fine condition.

FOSSIL AMMONITE & MALACHITE BOX
Handcrafted in Italy
Fossil source: Madagascar, Stone source: Zaire & Worldwide
Three pairs of Cretaceous fossil Ammonites (Cleoniceras cleon) from Madagascar have been inlaid in a black Onyx box by master Italian craftsmen. One golden pair graces the lid, while matching single halves adorn each side. All of the Ammonites have very clean and distinctive suture patterning. A thin band of chatoyant Malachite has been inlaid onto the lid and each side, creating rectangular frames for the Ammonites. The inlay work is seamless for both the Ammonites and the Malachite - a testament to the skill of the lapidary artists. The interior of the box is also black Onyx and there are gold plated brass furniture. Overall dimensions are 9 ½ x 6 3/8 x 4 ¼ inches tall.

PICASSO MARBLE CUBE BOX
Handcrafted in Italy
Stone source: Utah
Picasso Marble is a uniquely patterned stone that is only found in Utah. The stone has a body color that ranges from cream to light grey to medium grey. It exhibits sharply delineated intersecting lines of deep black and golden ochre. The resulting bold patterns resemble Cubist Art - hence the name "Picasso" Marble. The master lapidary artist who created this cubic box, expertly matched the top with all four sides and created a box that looks like it was painted even though the "painting" is completely natural. With a recessed gold-plated hinge and complimentary black Onyx interior and bottom, this cubic box measures 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 x 3 inches high, and is in very fine condition.

PAESINA BOX
Handcrafted in Italy
Stone source: Italy
Renowned for the "landscapes" that are revealed when sawn and polished, Italian Paesina stone, has been highly prized by lapidary artists worldwide. "Pietra paesina" literally means "landscape rock" and comes from quarries near Florence, Italy, that have been mined continually since the 15th century during the Renaissance. This Paesina box shows banded cliffs of rich browns, accented by black Manganese dendrite "trees" or "bushes". The sky is a light cream-grey with high clouds. The top is extremely well matched with all four of its adjacent sides, demonstrating the mastery of the Italian lapidary artist responsible for creating it. This box is well polished and has a black Onyx interior and gold-plated hinge. Overall it measures 7 1/8 x 4 1/8 x 1 5/8 inches and is in fine condition.

GRAPHIC GRANITE BOX
Handcrafted in Italy
Stone source: Madagascar
Resembling ancient cuneiform writing, Graphic Granite is a term applied to the particular pattern created by the intermingling of Feldspar and Smoky Quartz as seen in this large and impressive box. The master lapidary artist "butterflied" a single slab of stone with strong cream & grey patterning to create a "diamond" that runs from the top and continues down the front - the slightly deeper orange cream colors creating the pattern delineation. The "diamond" itself is an illusion as there is no inlay work at all other than the butterfly seam, which is virtually invisible. The box is in excellent condition and measures 9 1/8 x 6 ½ x 4 inches high. It has a black Onyx interior and bottom and gold-plated furniture.

VERY LARGE NEON BLUE APATITE SPHERE
Phosphorus Mountain, Near Bereketa and Isoalana, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
Apatite as a name comes from a Greek word meaning 'deception' as it is often mistaken for other minerals, but that is when it is found in its more common colors of yellow or yellow-green. "Neon blue" Apatite is another situation altogether - when gemstones have this bright blue electric color it instantly identifies itself as Apatite from remote Madagascar. This exceptionally large Apatite sphere has been fashioned from a singularly large boulder and it measures an impressive 12 ¼ inches in diameter.

LARGE GREEN CALCITE SPHERE
Chihuahua, Mexico
This large translucent to transparent, green Calcite sphere has been fashioned from a single block of Calcite. A light seafoam green; the Calcite reveals its interior beauty through a display of cleavage planes with rainbow reflections. Calcite, by nature, has perfect rhombohedral cleavage making it a challenge to cut and sculpt into a round sphere, let alone a large sphere. But a talented artisan was able to fashion the raw crystal into this fine 6 ½ inch diameter sphere.

LARGE OPTICALLY CLEAR QUARTZ SPHERE - A FLAWLESS "CRYSTAL" BALL
Brazil
This optically clear Quartz sphere has a very interesting history: originally the Quartz was mined in Brazil and purchased for the U.S. Defense National Stockpile. The National Stockpile was created shortly after World War II to acquire and store critical strategic materials for national defense purposes. Its primary mission is to protect the nation against dangerous and costly dependence upon foreign sources of supply for critical materials in times of national emergency. At the time, optical Quartz was critical for electronics and high-precision optics applications. But by 1994, this was no longer the case and the optical Quartz stockpile was auctioned off. This 87 mm diameter (3.43 inches) optically clear Quartz sphere is a direct result of that auction - since the rough Quartz came from that auction. Nowadays, it is extremely difficult to obtain the caliber of Quartz necessary to make a sphere greater than 3 inches in diameter with this level of optically flawless perfection. It is well polished with perfect concentricity: one can use this "crystal ball" as a lens, objects viewed through it are perfectly clear, just upside down. A strong caution applies: do not leave this sphere in sunlight - because it is a large and powerful sphere, it can start a fire with considerable ease.

OPTICALLY CLEAR QUARTZ SPHERE - A "CRYSTAL" BALL
Brazil
From the same source as the previous lot: the U.S. Defense National Stockpile sale of 1994. This smaller, optically flawless Quartz sphere measures 70 mm (2.76 inches) in diameter. Under intense side lighting, very faint "smoke" type of inclusions may be seen. This leads to an important caution: do not leave this sphere in sunlight. It is quite capable of serving as a magnifying lens and igniting any combustible objects near its focus. It is well polished with perfect concentricity.

TIGER IRON SLAB
Paleoproterozoic
Western Australia
This beautiful slab of tiger iron is an excellent example of the distinctive banding formed by folded layers of flashing golden Tiger's - eye, red jasper, hematite (iron oxide) and stromatolite. This last constituent represents the oldest organism in the fossil record, the 2½ billion year old remains of cyanobacteria or algae. The gentle curves and waves of the layers bear witness to the immense pressures to which the rock is inexorably subjected over an almost unimaginable amount of time. This beautiful and highly polished diamond-shaped slab is an excellent example of the distinctive banding and measures 33 3/8 x 20¼ x ½ inches.

MARRA MAMBA TIGER'S - EYE SLAB
Paleoproterozoic
Mt Brockman Station, Western Australia
About 2 Billion years ago the Pilbara and many of the other very old pieces of the continental crust were joined together in a supercontinent. When this supercontinent started to break up, waters heated up by volcanic activity dissolved much of the silica from banded iron formation units, leaving huge iron ore deposits of almost pure hematite (more than 65% iron). In other places, red and yellow iron oxides and/or silica were deposited as veins or replaced the wall areas of fine cracks in the host rock. In some instances, heated watery fluid redeposit minerals within the formations and in one small area of Western Australia, the resulting stone is known as Marra Mamba; in a red jasperlite host rock and banded with hematite and splashes of iron pyrite, it is the most beautiful and highly sought-after form of Tiger's - eye there is. The source is now mined out and only rare specimens make their way onto the market, very few of a size and quality comparable to the lots offered here. Sliced and polished, this Marra Mamba slab is like a wonderful canvas of natural abstract art. Bands and splashes of deep olive and bottle green, blood red and metallic black are intermingled with the shimmering golden Tiger's - eye and orange-brown limonite to incredible effect. Left with a naturally contoured edge, it measures 39 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 3/8 inches and stabilized with an aluminum backing.

TIGER IRON TABLE TOP
Paleoproterozoic
Western Australia
Fashioned from a single large piece of ancient tiger iron, this lovely table top ripples with characteristic bands of brown, black and deep rust-red, streaked with veins of shimmering gold. The layers of tiger's - eye, red jasper, hematite and stromatolite that produce these colors have been forced inexorably together over millions of years, the ripple effect testament to imperceptible movement of incredible pressure over an almost unaccountable amount of time. The result is one of nature's most beautiful pieces of abstract art. Presented here as a highly decorative furnishing piece, finely polished to a high gloss with beveled edges around the circumference and measures 39¼ in diameter.

LARGE MARRA MAMBA TIGER'S - EYE SLAB
Paleoproterozoic
Mt Brockman Station, Western Australia
The incredible Marra Mamba tiger eye is found only in a small area, Western Australia, and represents one of the finest and rarest of the world's minerals. Tiger eye is an ancient rock, formed from sediments laid down at the bottom of a shallow sea over two and a half billion years ago when the early Earth's atmosphere had little or no oxygen. Sometime later (approximately 2,700 million years ago) the first photosynthetic bacteria evolved and began to give off oxygen as a waste product, which built up in the atmosphere and dissolved in sea water. When this came in contact with iron (produced mainly from huge submarine volcanoes), it precipitated as iron oxide in the sea floor mud and resulted in iron rich bands and silica rich bands now classified as a banded iron formation (or BIF). Other minerals were also present and heating and burial brought about the crystallization of layers; it seems likely that solutions carrying sodium penetrated along some of these layers and this is where the mineral riebeckite was formed. The fibrous riebeckite variation with which Tiger eye originates is known as crocidolite, or blue asbestos, but pseudomorphically replaced by silica, with a fine dust of yellow goethite outlining the shape of the original crystals; this is the same way in which fossil wood preserves the outline of cells and growth rings. It seems hardly possible that the colors and patterns on this slab are a natural occurrence, but millions of years' of tectonic and mineralogical activity has produced Nature's finest abstract artwork. The colors flow into one another like indissoluble oil paints creating a wonderful "waterfall" effect that is fascinating to behold, dominated by a strong olive green and a gorgeous warm metallic gold band of Tiger's - eye. Left with a naturally contoured edge, this large and beautiful slab measures 68 x 21¾ x 1 inches and is stabilized with an aluminum backing.

UNUSUAL NEON BLUE APATITE TABLETOP
Phosphorus Mountain, Near Bereketa and Isoalana, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
In a remote area of southern Madagascar, near Phosphorus Mountain, are alluvial deposits of gem Apatite. Bright blue minerals rarely occur in the world but this neon blue Apatite is an exception. The mine site is literally covered with blue boulders of solid Apatite. In spite of its availability in large chunks, Apatite is much more likely to be encountered in exotic jewelry rather than as large lapidary objects - making this unusual mosaic tabletop a rarely seen lapidary treasure. Fashioned entirely from this brilliantly blue gemstone, it measures an impressive 55 inches long and 33 inches wide, and has an epoxy resin back for structural strength and ease of attachment to a supporting base.

ORBICULAR GRANITE TABLE TOP
Mount Magnet, Australia
One of the most striking forms of granite, this material is found in very few places in the world and the location near Mount Magnet in Western Australia is the most renowned (another mine opened recently in Finland). The incredible patterning is the result of concentrically-layered spheroidal masses formed through nucleation around a grain crystal in a cooling magma chamber. This beautiful table top was cut from a single large boulder and highly polished; orbicules of black, white and gray contrast beautifully with the predominantly gray granite ground, which is further highlighted by the tan blush that denotes the presence of a plagioclase feldspar. Appropriately presented in circular form, it measures 25 3/8 inches in diameter.

FOSSIL MARBLE TABLETOP
Agoniatites sp.
Devonian
Sahara Desert, near Talmud, Morocco
The scattering of various sections of Agoniatites ammonite remains provide the highlights of this impressive fossil marble slab, creating the same inexplicably uncanny beauty as some of man's own works of abstract art. Their striking gray and white shades contrast sharply and pleasingly with the surrounding gray and red marble, itself swirling with patterns and the hints of further ammonite shells and orthoceras cones. This majestic natural canvas has been sliced, trimmed and highly polished to a lustrous, flush finish, and measures 45 x 25¾ inches.

36 NEOLITHIC GEM POINTS
5000-6000 B.P.
Sahara Desert
A fine collection of Neolithic Gem points, this collection of 36 specimens is a reminder of the tribes of our ancestors who hunted the lakeshores of what today is the Sahara Desert. Finely knapped from a variety of materials from quartzite to jasper, they are presented in a 16¼ x 12¼-inch Riker mount.

27 NEOLITHIC GEM POINTS
5,000-6,000 B.P.
Sahara Desert
This collection boasts 27 colorful gem points finely knapped from a variety of materials, including chert, chalcedony, jasper, quartzite and flint. Years of exposure to the intense gamma radiation of the hot North African sun have given them a rich patina combined with the light burnished effect caused by windblown sand polishing, presented in a 16¼ x 12¼-inch Riker mount.

LARGE CLOVIS POINT
14,000-9,000B.P.
Swifton, Arkansas, USA
The classic Clovis is the oldest style of primitive point found in North America. Many have been found associated with extinct mammoth, mastodon and bison kill sites. It is believed that they originated in the south-eastern United States due to the high concentration of examples found there, although the name is taken from a town in Mexico near which, in 1932, the first such examples were recorded. This fine example is finely knapped from a softly-colored gray-green chert, fluted to about a third of the length on both sides. Of classic lanceolate form with a ground concave base, it measures 3 5/8 x 1 3/8 inches and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

BLACK CLOVIS POINT
approx. 8,000 B.P.
Scioto Co, Ohio
This fine projectile point was knapped from Black Zoleske Flint. The Clovis Point comes from the Paleo Period and is the oldest style of point in North America; they have been found associated with Mammoth, Mastodon, and Bison kill sites. This is a classic example with no modern chipping or repairs, and measures 2 7/8 x 1 1/8 inches, presented in a 4¼ x 3¼-inch Riker mount, with a Certificate of Authenticity from Joseph Royster Artifacts LLC.
Provenance: Andy White Collection

UNCOMMON CHISEL TIPPED COUGAR MOUNTAIN BLADE
11,500-9,000 BP
Cougar Mountain, Slough Camp
Fort Rock Valley, Oregon
This is a classic knife from a classic locality. Fashioned from obsidian, it is an exceptional specimen, long stemmed with tapered shoulders and convex base. Basal area is ground. Well intentioned and highly unusual chisel tip, beautifully knapped and richly patinated. It measures 5 1/10 inches in length x 1 3/4 inches wide. Cougar Mountain Blades are very rare; found associated with the Haskett points, they are contemporary with the Clovis culture and later developed into Lind Coulee points.
Provenance: D.Dietz collection, M. Martillo collection.

EXCELLENT PLAINVIEW POINT
11,250-9,500 B.P.
Butler Co, Missouri
This is a very nice example of the early Archaic Plainview point, fashioned from an attractively speckled beige chert. It is fluted, with high quality flaking, but most interestingly the lower lateral edges and basal concavity are heavily smoothed where a binding would have attached the point to a spear or arrow shaft. It measures 4 x 1 3/16 inches and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Provenance: George Robertson Collection

EXCELLENT WHEELER POINT
10,000-8,000 B.P.
Florida
This superb point is made from banded coastal fossil coral and is rather large for its kind. Of excurvate form with inward-turning ears, it is most unusual in being fluted, which most of these Wheeler points are not. It exhibits a fine patina and mineralization with a lovely area of translucence on one side near the base and measures 3½ x 1 inches, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

RARE SCOTTSBLUFF POINT
approx. 6,000 B.P.
Missouri
Found in Missouri, this fine Paleolithic artifact is suggested to date from the transitional Paleo to the early Archaic Period. Knapped from Burlington Chert, the workmanship is consistent with the ancient techniques of the period. There is good overall patina and mineralization compatible with its age. It is presented with a Jeff Baker Certificate of Authenticity on which it has been graded a 9; a first-rate point, it measures 2 5/8 x 1 inches.
Provenance: Terry Allen Collection

LARGE BI-FACED ARCHAIC KNIFE
4,000-5,000 B.P.
Missouri
This is a rare and exceptionally large bi-faced knife that measures 6 5/8 inches long by 3 inches wide, suggested to date from the Middle to Late Archaic period. Finely knapped from Burlington chert, the surface shows good evidence of mineralization and a fine smooth patina.

LITTLE RIVER ARCHAIC KNIFE
4,000-5,000 B.P.
Little River Preform, Arkansas
This large preform or Archaic Knife was found in Arkansas and has been finely fashioned from Novaculite. The workmanship is very consistent with the ancient techniques and there is good mineralization and a fine smooth patina. It is quite a large example, measuring 5 7/8 x 2 ½ inches, and comes with a Jeff Baker Certificate of Authenticity on which it is graded a 9.
Provenance: Johnny Parnell Collection; Terry Barker Collection

AUTHENTIC EGYPTIAN MUMMY HEAD
This incredible specimen is the actual head from an Egyptian mummy. Objects of fascination the world over for hundreds of years, the name "mummy" comes from the medieval Latin word mumia, derived from the Persian mum, meaning bitumen. The skin of the classic Egyptian mummy is characteristically black, and in the Middle Ages it was believed (incorrectly) that bitumen had been used in the embalming process, so they were routinely ground down for use as medicine. Mummies have been a feature of various cultures the world over, from Peru to China, but those from Egypt are by far the most famous and historically sought-after. In the late 1700's, Napoleon's army conquered Egypt and the returning soldiers plundered countless treasures from the pyramids including the ornate sarcophagi containing the mummified remains of ancient Egyptian dignitaries and the treasures that were to accompany them into the afterlife. During the Victorian era, mummies were eagerly collected by museums and private individuals fascinated by the mystery surrounding and impelled by the prestige attached to owning these marvelous objects of curiosity. Especially fine collections are to be found in the Egyptian Museums of Cairo and Berlin, the British Museum in London and of course the Mummification Museum in Luxor.

The present specimen probably a European acquisition originally; although it is unquestionably authentic, its provenance can only be traced to an antique dealer from New Jersey from whom it was acquired by a New York Collector in the 1960s, and remained in his collection for several decades. Judging from its well-executed mummification, a possible date between the New Kingdom and the Ptolemaic is likely. It is a remarkable specimen, complete with the original wrappings over the top of the head and part of the neck region with several cervical vertebrae still attached. Incisor teeth are visible and a section of the left cheek area is removable, revealing the bone structure within. Imprints around the eye sockets suggest that they were once covered, possibly with coins with which to pay for passage to the afterlife. It exhibits no distortion and is beautifully prepared, indicating that this may well have been a high status individual.

Despite the large quantity of mummies exported from Egypt over the last few centuries, surprisingly few have survived outside of the realm of museum collections. As well as a source of medicine, the ground remains were frequently used in the 17th century as a paint pigment, Caput mortuum or "Mummy brown". There is even an urban myth (instigated by Mark Twain) that they were used as fuel for locomotives. Mummies have also held a significant place in popular culture; Howard Carter's highly publicized discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922 brought mummies into the mainstream consciousness, where they have remained ever since, from the classic Universal horror film of 1932, starring Boris Karloff, to the recent film franchise starring Brendan Fraser. Unlike the Wolfman, Dracula, or Frankenstein's monster, however, the cinematic Mummy was based on actual archeological discoveries and these artifacts, the actual preserved remains of deceased individuals, continue to fascinate both scholars and lay people alike, thousands of years after their original entombment.

HUMAN SKULLS - MEDICAL ODDITIES
Homo sapiens
This Lot comprises two unique medical preparations displaying rare deformities found in the human skull. The smaller of the two specimens, despite its size and delicate structure, represents an adult individual. This interesting specimen exhibits facial distortion, dental malocclusion (misalignment), mandibular atrophy and bone disease, to name a few of the much present pathology. The braincase of the skull is flattened on top, suggesting brachycephaly and judging by the small mastoid process, may have belonged to a female. The most impressive aspect of this skull is its unusually small size (microcephaly), which may indicate dwarfism. The second specimen, on the other hand, is a robust and oversized skull, exhibiting abnormal elongation of the brain case (scaphocephaly) with sutures prematurely fused, most noticeably in the occipital region. A pair of holes are present on the top of the skull; one was drilled post mortem, indicating that this was at one time part of an articulated skeleton (the bone patina suggests a date circa late 1800's); the other, a circular depression, indicates a further abnormality of the individual. These two contrasting skulls demonstrate many of the severe conditions that exist in the field and are perfect to be placed in a forensic pathology collection, or ideal as a gift for the talented medical student. The smaller specimen measures 5¼ x 5 x 7¼ inches overall, with wired jaw. The larger measures 6 5/8 x 5 1/8 x 8¾ overall with a sprung jaw.

CAMPO DEL CIELO - AN OUTSTANDING COMPLETE METEORITE FROM "THE VALLEY OF THE SKY"
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Gran Chaco, Argentina
It is uncommon for large meteorites to possess the amount of character seen in the current offering, which is worthy of any natural history museum in the world. Massive and imposing, this iron meteorite originated in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. Nearly 4000 years after having collided with Earth, Campo del Cielo ("Valley of the Sky") meteorites were first written about in 1576 by Spanish explorers when their unearthly origin had yet to be understood. The first large meteorite displayed at the British Museum of Natural History was a "Campo," and several large masses can today be found in the world's foremost natural history museums.

This meteorite features fusion crust and dozens of regmaglypts (thumbprints created during its fiery descent) - a sought-after and unusual characteristic for Campos as such surface features are frequently lost due to their multi-millennium exposure to the elements on Earth. The character seen here was preserved due to this meteorite having landed in an elevated section of the Campo strewn field, where meteorites were less susceptible to incursions of ground water and other oxidants and are better preserved. Highly sculptural, this meteorite features two broad faces and a pronounced scoop at its base; it is draped in a natural patina ranging from pewter to platinum with charcoal accents. Accompanied by a custom steel pedestal and a Macovich Collection provenance - the world's finest collection of aesthetic iron meteorites - this is a distinguished natural abstract sculpture from outer space. 108.3 kg (238 pounds).

CAMPO DEL CIELO - FIST-SIZED COMPLETE METEORITE WITH NATURALLY FORMED HOLE
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Gran Chaco, Argentina
Similar to the previous lot, but a wee-bit smaller. This lively example also features a naturally-formed hole - a sought-after rarity. Iron meteorites originate from the molten iron core of what were planetary-sized bodies between Mars and Jupiter during the formation of the solar system. Such plantetoids (large unstable planetary bodies) broke apart approximately 4.5 billion years ago whose remnants are today referred to as the asteroid belt - which is from where this, and most other meteorites, originate. Back on Earth, the current offering features a surface of finely textured ridges and sockets, and sports a bright gunmetal patina with chrome highlights. Surprisingly dense, this meteorite is accompanied by a custom armature and measures 111 x 83 x 58mm (4.25 x 3.25 x 2.25 inches) and 643 grams.
Provenance: Macovich Collection of Meteorites

SIKHOTE-ALIN - FIST-SIZED COMPLETE METEORITE FROM THE LARGEST METEORITE SHOWER OF THE LAST SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia
Surprisingly heavy for its size, this splendidly shaped meteorite originates from what was among the most frightening natural phenomena ever experienced: the largest meteorite shower since the dawn of civilization. It was 10.30 a.m. on February 12, 1947 that the sky seemed ablaze above Siberia's Sikhote-Alin Mountains. This frightening vision was accompanied by terrifying sonic detonations; local inhabitants were fearful the world was coming to an end.
Accenting the face of this meteorite are numerous ridges, folds, and dozens of regmaglypts (the tiny thumbprints found along the meteorite's surface created during the fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere). At the right margin, there is a small area in which it can be discerned where this meteorite was ripped apart along its crystalline structure as it rocketed to Earth (see following lot as a further example of in-flight deformation). Veiled in a gunmetal to platinum patina with patches of fusion crust, this is a choice meteorite from one of the most historic meteorite showers of all time. 121 x 81 x 49mm (4.75 x 3 x 2 inches) and 1188 grams (2.5 pounds).

SIKHOTE-ALIN - FASCINATING IRON METEORITE FROM THE LARGEST METEORITE SHOWER SINCE THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia
Similar to the previous lot, and a fascinating example which features numerous attributes rarely witnessed in a single meteorite. At the left margin, a portion of the meteorite was shorn away as a result of the monumental forces experienced during atmospheric entry. We know this occurred late in the meteorite's passage through the atmosphere as this area would otherwise have continued to melt and acquire characteristic flight markings, e.g., thumbprints and flow lines. Also as a result the meteorite's collision with Earth's atmosphere, this specimen was partially split on the right margin along the face of a crystalline plane. The shorn edges were softened by the continued superheating during the balance of its descent. Exhibiting a bright sheen, a close examination of this meteorite's surface both amazes and enthralls. This is a superlative example of a cataclysmic event frozen in time, from the most terrifying meteorite shower of modern times. 83 x 53 x 47mm (3.25 x 2 x 2 inches) and 609 grams (1.3 pounds).
Provenance: Macovich Collection of Meteorites

CANYON DIABLO - UNUSUAL, EXTRATERRESTRIAL TABLETOP SCULPTURE FROM THE BEST PRESERVED METEORITE CRATER ON EARTH
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Meteor Crater, Coconino County, Arizona

This is a superlative example of an aesthetic iron meteorite from Meteor Crater, Arizona. Like most meteorites, this lot originated in the asteroid belt, but approximately 45,000 years ago it was part of an errant asteroid that plowed into the Arizona desert with the force of more than 100 atomic bombs. While fragments were ejected more than 11 miles away from the point of impact, the main mass vaporized, creating the most famous and best-preserved meteorite crater in the world-the renowned "Meteor Crater" near Winslow, Arizona, nearly one mile across and 600 feet deep. Canyon Diablos ("Canyon of the Devil") are the quintessential American meteorite, prized by museums and private collectors everywhere, and this is a choice tabletop example. Highly animated and possessing a most unusual shape, this abstract form features a finely textured surface with two large partial sockets delimiting its girth. Accompanied by a custom armature and measures 191 x 138 x 69mm (7.5 x 5.5 x 2.75 inches) and 3396 grams (7 ½ pounds).
Provenance: Macovich Collection of Meteorites

GIBEON METEORITE - SINGULAR TABLETOP SCULPTURE FROM OUTER SPACE WITH PRONOUNCED NATURAL HOLE
Iron, fine octahedrite
Gibeon, Great Nama Land, Namibia
Meteorites almost never look like the present specimen: and while there may be hundreds of meteorites with naturally formed holes, most are extremely small and weigh less than a pound. The example featured in this lot, however, is one of the larger sculptural examples of a meteorite with a large hole. Iron meteorites originate from the core of an unstable planetary body that existed billions of years ago between Mars and Jupiter, whose remains are a part of the asteroid belt. After having deflected into an Earth-intersecting orbit, the errant mass from which this meteorite originated slammed into Earth's upper atmosphere a thousand years ago, exploded above the Kalahari Desert and rained down on what is now Namibia.

Located by local tribesmen in 1992 with the aid of a metal detector, the hole is the result of terrestrialization (exposure to the elements) as the seasons changed and centuries turned. A smaller hole or deep depression expanded over time. Its smoothly scalloped surfaces are cloaked in an exquisite raw sienna patina with charcoal to mango accents. Deceptively massive, this basket-like sculpture from outer space balances in a variety of orientations and is among the most select meteorites of its kind. Formerly of the Macovich Collection - the world's foremost collection of aesthetic iron meteorites. 323 x 211 x 98mm (12.75 x 8.25 x 4 inches) and 24.3 kilos (53.5 pounds).

NOTABLE OFFERING OF THE INCOMPARABLE LOVINA METEORITE - COMPLETE SLICE FROM A UNIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN AND ONLY METEORITE TO EXHIBIT LARGE PYRAMIDAL STRUCTURES
Iron, ataxite (ungrouped)
Lovina Beach, Bali, Indonesia

From Lovina Beach, Bali, Indonesia, comes the meteorite for which museums and private collectors are today clamoring. Scarce and only recently available, this is the first public offering of Lovina - what scientists have described as the single most unique iron meteorite. In terms of its external structure, Lovina is the only meteorite with pyramids. In terms of its internal structure, Lovina is the only iron meteorite to reveal an organized, lattice-like matrix of inclusions and vugs. In addition, Lovina is also one of a handful of underwater meteorite finds - and the only meteorite find recovered from a body of water where there was not an additional meteorite from the same event first recovered from the shoreline.

It was in 1981 that a 13-year-old Canadian boy recovered an unusual metallic rock from the tropical Balinese shallows while searching for shells at Lovina Beach. He knew nothing about meteorites - had no idea at all what they looked like - but this did not prevent him from earnestly reporting to his family that he found a rock from outer space. Extremely exotic, the heavy rock looked nothing like any meteorite ever seen. With two-dozen one-inch metallic pyramids perched on a coral-like base, this would easily have to be the most unusually shaped meteorite to exist. As the years went by, the boy was entirely content to hold onto his find. He returned to Canada with his family, kept his rock in a tackle box and became a miner.

In 2008, he was introduced to meteorite researchers at Western Ontario University. When the rock's extraterrestrial origin was confirmed, the owner was nonplussed and later conveyed, "Over all these years, I've never had as much faith in anything as this being a meteorite."

With its 34.5% nickel content, Lovina has the 4th largest nickel concentration of any meteorite - which intrinsically makes it among the most valuable meteorites per unit weight. In a curious anecdotal twist, long before he was informed of his meteorite's mineralogy, the young boy who found the meteorite with one of the greatest concentrations of nickel worked as a young man at one of Earth's largest concentrations of nickel - in a nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario.

The extraordinary ziggurat (stepped pyramidal) structures are partially the result of the meteorite being rich in tetrataenite - a polymorph of taenite, but with nearly three times the nickel content. Troilite inclusions and vugs arrayed in a novel latticework also promoted ziggurat growth. As a result of its mineralogy, this meteorite was selectively resistant to the oxidizing effect of the tropical waters in which it was immersed for centuries. In sum, the pyramidal structures are the result of several exotic attributes of the meteorite and circumstances (falling in the wave-swept shallows of a tropical ocean and anchoring to a terrestrial rock) that serendipitously came together.
The complete slice offered here - one of only eleven complete slices - reveals a plentitude of vugs and inclusions and is accented by three natural holes, artifacts of weathering in tropical waters. Said Marlin Cilz of the Montana Meteorite Laboratory (which has prepared specimens for the American Museum of Natural History (New York), The Natural History Museum (London) and countless other institutions), "Lovina is the most bizarre, unreal meteorite I've ever seen in 30 years." For the sophisticated collector, this is an exceptional representation of what will forever be one of the more remarkable meteorites - and one that can grace only a limited number of collections. Lovina weighed less than eleven pounds and a five pound section containing the pyramidal structures was removed in anticipation of it becoming a museum centerpiece. This lot comes accompanied by a copy of its abstract in Lunar and Planetary Science (XXXIX) and a high res image of the entire mass. 42 x 46 x 3mm (1.75 x 1.75 x 0.12 inches) and 31.53 grams.
Provenance: Macovich Collection of Meteorites

MUONIONALUSTA SLICE
Iron, Fine (IVA) octahedrite
Kiruna, Norrbotten, Northern Sweden
Believed to have impacted the Earth over 800,000 years ago, only a handful of these mysterious meteorites have been recovered since its initial discovery in 1906. Searches for the impact crater from the original shower have been in vain; the site where these specimens are found is in a remote area of northern Sweden, well into the Arctic Circle, but it is generally assumed that they were transported there by glacial action from the original, ancient strewnfield. The fragments are few and far between and almost always buried, and so must be located with specialized metal detectors. To add to the difficulty, Swedish law dictates that a license must be obtained for use of a metal detector, and then those pieces buried in the perma-frost must be excavated by hand. Not only are specimens therefore rather rare, but the Muonionalusta is also significant as the first iron meteorite in which stishovite was found, a rare and extremely hard silicon dioxide polymorph of quartz that is formed by very high shock pressure, such as the hypervelocity of a meteorite impact. Presented in a slice such as this, the classic Widmanstätten patterns are wonderfully visible; characteristic of iron meteorites they form an unearthly metallic grid in shimmering shades of gray and silver, comprising two forms of extraterrestrial nickel-iron, kamacite and taenite. Rarity and difficulty of recovery make these specimens uncommon on the market, and the present example is of a good size, measuring 9 5/8 x 6 7/8 inches on a wood and metal display stand.
Chemical analysis: apart from an 8.42% nickel content, these meteorites are known (so far) to contain Akaganeite (Fe O OH), Daubreelite (Fe2 CR3 S4), Gersdorffite (Ni As S), Goethite (Fe3 (OH)), Iron (Fe), Kamacite (Fe Ni), Lepidocrocite (Fe O (OH), Magnetite (Fe Fe2 O4), Stishovite (SiO2), Taenite (Fe Ni) and Troilite (Fe S). The high nickel content galvanizes the iron to some extent, which aids immensely in the meteorites' survival for so long under conditions highly favorable to rusting.

A LARGE AND SPECTACULAR SLICE WITH GEM OLIVINE
Stoney Iron, PAL (Pallasite)
Fukang, Xinjiang Uygur, People's Republic of China
This superb slice contains a plethora of large transparent to translucent olivine crystals ranging from emerald green to yellow-green with one uncut edge displaying the original fusion crust of this incredible meteorite. Measures 131 x 121 x 39 mm thick (5.15 x 4.76 inches surface area) and weighs 264 grams.

"SPACE GEM" METEORITE SLICE
Stony Iron, PAL (Pallasite)
Fukang, Xinjiang Uygur, People's Republic of China
Some of the crystals in the nickel-iron matrix of this slice are so fine they can be classified as peridot, the gem form of olivine. They range in color from green to orange to yellow, and when held before the light, they burst into otherworldly life, assuring the viewer that what they see could only be extraterrestrial in origin. Measuring 86.3 x 76 mm (3 3/8 x 2 7/8 x 1/16 inches), and weighs 55 grams.

A SMALL PARTIAL SLICE WITH A HUGE OLIVINE CRYSTAL
Stoney Iron, PAL (Pallasite)
Fukang, Xinjiang Uygur, People's Republic of China
Similar to the previous lot, this small rectangular slice measures 57 x 43 x 3.7 mm thick (2 1/4 inches by 1 3/4 inches surface area) yet it contains a huge olivine crystal that takes up almost 80% of the surface area of the slice. A very large and rare example of extraterrestrial olivine. Weighs 34.7 grams.

ALLENDE - AN INDIVIDUAL THAT BROKE APART IN FLIGHT CONTAINING THE OLDEST KNOWN MATTER
Carbonaceous Chondrite-CV3
Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico
Witnessed Fall: February 8, 1969
Carbonaceous Chondrites are very rare by virtue of the fact that they seem to sample the original Solar Nebula at a very early stage of our Solar System and their elemental composition closely approximates that of the Sun. In addition, the CV3s contain CAIs or Calcium Aluminum Inclusions which are the very large cream to white, cloud-like structures present in large numbers in Allende. CAIs formed just after the explosion of the supernova responsible for the gravity collapse which started the formation of our Solar System. These CAIs were the first matter to condense after the supernova, out of our solar nebula, and were later incorporated into the accretion masses that condensed out of the proto-planetary disc which formed around the Sun. These particles existed before the formation of our Solar System and thus, they are the oldest matter known anywhere! Probable ages of around 4.571 billion years plus are associated with CAIs. In addition to the numerous CAIs in this specimen, there are huge numbers of very densely packed and nearly perfectly formed chondrules, attesting to this meteorite's nearly pristine unchanged condition since the creation of our Solar System. The chondrules are visible as predominantly gray to olive green and brown spheres, interspersed throughout the dark gray matrix. Some of the CAIs in this specimen are huge and clearly visible in the broken cross-section of this interesting meteorite, as well as on the surfaces where the fusion crust is missing. This two-piece specimen is very unusual in that it fits perfectly together forming one original stone. This happened when the meteorite exploded apart high above the earth during the Allende meteorite shower. What makes this specimen so rare is that the odds of the pieces of an exploded meteorite landing close enough together to be reunited after they are collected are incredibly low. These two gorgeous pieces when fitted together show excellent fusion crust over 70% of the surface. In addition the incredible interior and structures are visible on the broken surfaces revealing matter that formed, and is virtually unchanged, since the beginning of time. Total Weight: 146.6 grams - one piece of 77.5 grams and one of 69.1 grams. A truly unique and ancient meteorite.

ALLENDE METEORITE - END PIECE CONTAINS THE OLDEST MATTER THAT CAN BE TOUCHED - TRUE "STARDUST"
Carbonaceous Chondrite-CV3
Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico
Witnessed Fall: February 8, 1969
Allende, the most studied meteorite in the world, contains interstellar particles that are believed to have formed during an explosion of a super nova prior to the formation of our solar system. The white calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs) seen here are among the earliest materials to have condensed out of the hot nebular gasses that initiated the formation of the planets. In effect, the CAIs are aggregates of primitive "stardust"- the oldest matter mankind can ever touch - and Allende is among the few meteorites to contain such particles. This specimen was part of the meteorite shower that descended on Chihuahua, Mexico on February 8, 1969. Its light charcoal matrix is loaded with CAIs, spherical chondrules and myriad other inclusions. The reverse is a naturally fractured, non-fusion encrusted surface. This is a superb example of what is inarguably one of the most scientifically important meteorite showers in history: more than one hundred scientific papers have been devoted to the study of Allende. 84 x 54 x 5 mm (3.3 x 2.1 x 0.2 inches) and 51.9 grams.

TALAMPAYA - PARTIAL SLICE OF RARE PATAGONIAN EUCRITE ORIGINATING FROM THE ASTEROID VESTA
Eucrite - AEUC
Patagonia, Argentina
The headlines in the newspaper declared "New York City Marathon Results in Rare Meteorite Recovery." On November 10, 1997, the American Museum of Natural History confirmed that a most unusual rock an Argentine marathoner brought with him to New York prior to competing in the New York City Marathon was a rare eucrite - and a stunningly beautiful example. The marathoner acquired the meteorite from a mountain climber, who while climbing several years earlier in Patagonia was nearly blasted off a cliff by the pressure wave created by the meteorite's punching through Earth's atmosphere. The climber recovered the meteorite, yet was sufficiently rattled that he felt compelled to take an extended vow of silence. Unlike most meteorites, eucrites have a known address; scientists believe they originated from the asteroid Vesta. The milky-white matrix contrasts strikingly against this eucrite's characteristic "burnt sugar" fusion crust. With a total known weight of only 1400 grams - and the largest specimen in New York's American Museum of Natural History, this is a rare offering of a partial slice of Talampaya. 48 x 42 x 2 mm (1.9 x 1.6 x 0.1 inches) and 15.2 grams.

A METEORITE POSSIBLY FROM THE PLANET MERCURY - AN ANGRITE
NWA 4662 - Paired with NWA 2999 and NWA 3164
Angrite
Morocco - Discovered 2004
Angrites are an exceptionally rare type of achondrite meteorite and are from a parent body much closer to the Sun than Earth. They were formed as the result of a very large impact which penetrated to the mantle of the parent body and mixed crust and mantle materials along with the impact body, thought to be a very large iron meteorite, resulting in the unique characteristics that only Angrites possess. Several mineralogical and structural characteristics point to Mercury as the origin for the Angrites, but the evidence is insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mercury is the parent body. Thus, we can only hope that more of these exotic and extremely rare meteorites are found so that the source body can one day be definitively identified. Angrites are rarer than meteorites from the Moon or Mars and are likely the rarest and most desired class of meteorite from a large asteroid or planet.

The present specimen is a full slice from a complete individual, measuring 43.6 x 37.8 x 2.1 mm thick (1.72 x 1.49 inches by .082 inches thick) and weighing 8.14 grams. It is characterized by large polygonal grains of anorthite (pink-purple), shocked olivine (black) and spinel (ruby red) contained in a fine-grained matrix. This meteorite is quite beautiful in thin sections or reflected light with the ruby-colored grains of spinel standing out in sharp contrast to the other minerals.

AN ACTUAL MOON ROCK - EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND UNIQUE LUNAR METEORITE EXHIBITING 3 DISTINCT LITHOLOGIES
NWA 2727 (NWA=Northwest Africa)
Olivine Gabbro / Mare Basalt Regolith Breccia

The first indications of the scientific importance of this rare meteorite were seen in November of 2004 when an astronomy journal reported that scientists had just discovered the youngest lunar rock ever found in a new meteorite called NWA 773 or Dchira. Since that article five more stones were found that have recently been classified as paired with NWA 773 - which means that they are from the exact same source meteoroid and fell to Earth at the exact same time. Thus, this meteorite, NWA 2727, contains the youngest lunar material ever found that dates from 2.865 billion years ago. NWA 2727 is a regolith breccia which means that it is a shock-welded lunar soil composed of fragments of many different kinds of rock and minerals, including fine grains and powders that were broken away from the underlying bedrock by the repeated impact of meteorites. The shock-welding is caused by the impact of a large meteorite nearby which, much like a nuclear weapon, releases massive amounts of heat energy (thermal radiation) and shock waves. Shock-welding occurs when the impact is far enough away that no direct melting occurs, and only the massive shock wave crushes and compresses the regolith together, creating a new rock, very much like making a snowball by squeezing the snow between one's hands. The incredible pressures generated by these nuclear weapon-like impacts regularly produced very large zones of shock-welded material which, then, had to be blasted into space by an even larger impact in order to get to Earth.

Another aspect of this meteorite's great scientific importance is that it samples two of the very rarest lithologies on the Moon:

The first is Olivine Gabbro, an intrusive igneous rock containing large amounts of olivine that formed deep under the lunar crust or in magma chambers of volcanoes. We know that gabbro crystallized deep under the crust because of the large grain/crystal size, meaning slow and steady cooling at depth. This Olivine Gabbro portion of the meteorite contained the olivine that gave the age of 2.865 billion years, proving the Moon was still volcanically active 2.865 billion years ago. This very young crystallization age shocked the scientific community when it was first reported because the Moon was previously thought to have been a "dead" planet for over 3.4 billion years. Soon after the Moon formed, approximately 4.2 billion years ago, a continual stream of meteorite impacts created an ocean of molten rock (magma) that covered the entire surface of the Moon. As this molten rock cooled, minerals and elements began crystallizing out in decreasing order of their melting points with olivine followed by pyroxene followed by plagioclase feldspar. Since olivine and pyroxene are very dense, the plagioclase feldspar floated to the top of the magmas before crystallizing creating the anorthositic crust that we see covering the lunar highlands to this day. The last things to crystallize from the magma were the rocks rich in potassium(K), phosphorus(P) and REE (rare earth elements) and metals. These "KREEP" rocks have high concentrations of radioactive elements which were the energy source for creation of these youngest magmas such as the Olivine Gabbro portion of this meteorite - Indeed, the heat engine in the molten core and semi-molten mantle of the Earth is driven by just such a mechanism involving the slow decay of radioactive elements. Very importantly, since Olivine Gabbro forms very deep under the crust, the only way that it could be brought to the surface without being melted and changed to basalt is through a gigantic meteorite or asteroid impact that excavated very deeply into the Moon's crust by at least several miles and blasted sub-crustal rock to the surface. Therefore, it is concluded that one of the very largest impacts in the Moon's history is responsible for the Olivine Gabbro being present at the surface.

The second is Mare Basalt, an extrusive or volcanic rock that formed 3-3.5 billion years ago, long after the ocean of magma that covered the infant Moon had cooled and formed the multiple layers of rock types in the Moon's crust. Huge meteorite and asteroid impacts that occurred much later broke up the crust forming weak spots. Later magma, generated by the high-radioactivity "KREEP" rock layers, penetrated the broken crust underneath these biggest impact craters and caused gigantic lava flows (molten basalt). Over time these craters became filled with the lava forming giant, very flat, basaltic plains, which early astronomers mistook for actual seas and dubbed "maria", Latin for "seas" - hence the name, Mare Basalt. These large, dark, basaltic plains delineate the face of the "Man in the Moon" that we see today. 16 % of the lunar surface is maria, but only 1% of the total volume of the lunar crust are Mare Basalts and thus, they are exceptionally rare in lunar meteorite samples as well.

This lunar meteorite, NWA 2727 and its synonymous pairs, can legitimately be called the most scientifically important lunar meteorite ever discovered and certainly the rarest yet found!

The present specimen is a superb end piece showing small gray fragmented Mare Basalt clasts, and one very large and many smaller green Olivine Gabbro clasts, mixed with regolith breccia and with dark fused glass matrix in between the clasts. There is nearly complete fusion crust on the uncut end. This incredible museum piece measures 39.2 x 22.8 mm by 12.2 mm thick and weighs 12.68 grams.

THE RAREST OF ALL MARTIAN METEORITES - A CHASSIGNITE
NWA 2737
Martian Dunite
North West Africa, Morocco
Most Martian meteorites found on Earth are believed to have been blasted into space during a single event which occurred 175 million years ago - a gigantic meteoroid or asteroid impact so huge that some of the rock ejected by the monstrous nuclear-strength blast reached escape velocity (11,178 miles per hour) and left the Martian orbit. The ejected rock fragments, called meteoroids, would follow long elliptical orbits around the Sun with a few intersecting the Earth's orbit. Even fewer of these would approach close enough to be captured by the Earth's gravitational field and, finally, after a journey of 100 million miles, and likely much more, fall into decaying orbits so that they would eventually spiral down the gravity well and smash into the surface of our planet. There are only 50 known Martian meteorites, so they are roughly equal in rarity to lunar meteorites with only a few kilograms of difference between the total known weights of both types. Like lunar material, Martian meteorites are millions of times rarer than gem grade diamonds. Out of all of these Martian meteorites, there are only two Chassignites: Chassigny, the namesake of the class, and NWA 2737, the specimen offered here. The Chassignites are dunites, which are primarily composed of very iron rich olivine, which can come in a gem form called peridot, and are believed to have formed very deep in the Martian crust in giant magma chambers when Mars was still volcanically active some 1.36 billion years ago. The reason that they are so rare is that they sample very deep layers of the Martian crust and possibly even the mantle. The asteroid impact that caused the ejection of all Martian meteorites was large enough to excavate deep into the Martian surface but, the deeper the rock, the greater the escape velocity - so only a very few percent of the source rock would have come from these deepest layers, the majority coming from surface rocks. Scientists have been so intrigued by this exceptionally rare meteorite that more than 22 scientific papers have been published so far on this very important find! NWA 2737 has a dark, granular greenish-black texture with the predominant olivine appearing to be almost black. Normally olivine would have an emerald green color with transparency or translucency as shown in the pallasite slices offered in these same pages, but the olivine in NWA 2737 was so heavily shocked during the impact event and ejection from the Martian surface, that it is almost opaque - thus, the black color. NWA 2737 has the added distinction of containing a new type of mineral that had never been seen before. This specimen is a very large sample from this extremely rare meteorite. Indeed, only a few museums in the world have a Chassignite represented in their collections and this piece would be worthy of any major museum. This slice measures 35 x 17.8 x 2 mm thick (1.75 x 1.3 inches by .08 inches thick) and weighs 2.61 grams. A truly exceptional museum quality specimen!

TYRANNOSAURID SKULL CAST
Albertosaurus libratus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Two Medicine Formation, Teton Co, Montana
Very similar in appearance to the famous Tyrannosaurus, the Albertosaurus was a rather older relative and significantly smaller, but with the same basic body shape of large head and tiny front limbs, bipedal with a tail that comprised half of the animal's overall length. Their prey included a variety of ceratopsians, hadrosaurs and smaller dinosaurs, and their domain extended throughout western North America. This skull cast is highly detailed and accurately shows all internal structures, reproducing the fantastic bone texture of the original specimen which is on display at the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita, Kansas. The mouth bristle with the characteristic fat heavy black teeth, and the skull measures 28 inches long, raised on a metal stand to 26½ inches high.

"DUCK-BILLED" DINOSAUR SKULL CAST
Edmontosaurus annectens
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Hell Creek Formation, Harding Co, South Dakota
This is a highly detailed cast of what is almost certainly the most interesting Edmontosaurus skull ever found and one of the best preserved. It has a fascinating story to tell: located on the lateral margins of each lower jaw are bite marks from an attacker that had this Edmontosaurus by the throat, but close examination shows that the Edmontosaurus survived the attack, as there is frothy bone growth along the edges of the marks on the left jaw, which represents healing. Expert analysis suggests that the amount of healing represents about 3 months and so although mortally wounded, the Edmontosaurus escaped its attacker, probably a large raptor or juvenile T-rex, before dying a short while later, possibly as a result of the wounds received in this encounter. Other outstanding features of this skull include complete dentition, the rarely preserved predentary - the "extra" bone of the mandible - and almost no distortion, with fantastically reproduced bone texture and a lovely warm brown coloring. The original skeleton is on display at the Fukui Prefectural Museum in Japan and this world-class reproduction measures 28½ inches long and stands 21½ inches high on a metal stand.

GIANT MOSASAUR SKULL CAST
Tylosaurus proriger
Cretaceous, Campanian Stage
Pecan Gap Formation, Mclennan Co, Texas
This giant Tylosaurus skull cast is not only huge, but reproduced from one of the finest Mosasaur skulls in existence. Virtually the entire original skull was present with very little distortion, allowing it to be reassembled exactly as it was in life. The ocean-going Mosasaur was the apex predator of its day, its species ranging in length from 7 feet to 55 feet in the case of the mighty Tylosaur. Their diet seems to have been pretty much anything they wanted to eat based upon stomach contents containing Plesiosaurs, birds, fish, and even other Mosasaurs. This cast reproduces the fantastic bone texture of the original and has been finished with a lovely warm woody brown patina; snout-wrestling behavior is evidenced by deep gouges and tooth slashes and punctures in and around the tip of the snout, and the jaws bristle with fearsome inky black teeth. The complete skeleton of this individual is 42 feet long and is available for sale (inquiries welcome). The present skull cast offered here is a mighty 5 feet in length, raised to a height of 57¾ inches on a metal display stand.

SABER-TOOTHED TIGER SKULL CAST
Smilodon fatalis
Pleistocene
The Great Saber-Toothed Tiger, S. fatalis is the epitome of the North American fossil and the official State Fossil of California. It ranged throughout North and South America during the last Ice Age and their remains are found nowhere else in the world. Smilodon was a member of the family of true cats (Felidae) and its most striking and unique features are found in the skull and teeth, instantly recognizable from the giant curving upper canines that give the animal its name. It is presumed that these were used to immobilize prey that might have been much larger and stronger than the cat itself - a quick slice to the jugular or windpipe would soon put paid to a struggle that could easily turn nasty for the smaller predator. Saber-toothed cat fossils are highly prized among collectors, the most desirable being those excavated from the La Brea Tar Formation in California. This finely-executed cast has been modeled after one such example, finished with the lovely dark brown woody patina characteristic of tar-buried fossils. It measures 13¼ inches long with 7-inch sabers and raised to 17 inches high overall on a metal display stand.

BUGLING ELK BRONZE
Artist: F. Boyer
This bronze is #12 of only 20 made. A mature Bull Elk is captured in the mating season bugling a challenge for any rival Bulls who may want to try to steal a cow from his herd. The sculpture boasts excellently detailed anatomical accuracy and measures 13 5/8 inches high by 19¾ inches long by 11¾ inches wide.

SPECTACULARLY RARE - A LARGE LIZARD PERFECTLY PRESERVED IN PREHISTORIC AMBER

Anolis dominicianus ?
Oligocene
Dominican Republic
This extremely rare and scientifically important specimen is the largest lizard ever found in amber. In fact, it is the largest complete animal ever discovered in amber and among the finest fossil vertebrates known to exist.
Amber is the common name for fossilized tree resin, or sap, which seeping from the trunks and branches of prehistoric flora 30-90 million years ago would occasionally trap an unwitting insect in its slow but sticky and inexorable path. Such specimens are highly prized, for, distinct from fossils; they represent the incredible preservation of a life form physically unchanged over millions of years. Almost unheard of, however, is for a nugget of amber to contain an animal as large and spectacular as the 3 ½ inch long lizard we have here. Only a handful of geckos and lizards have been discovered preserved in this way, making this specimen one of the very rarest prizes on the Natural History market. Held suspended in its golden cage, it could almost be swimming, and so perfect is the state of preservation - every detail of the skin and the muscle structure beneath, the articulation of the digits and their protruding claws, is as clearly visible as it would have been in life.
It is likely that this lizard perished prior to falling into the tree sap as evidenced by signs of decay. A few insects are present and clearly visible inside this specimen including 3 ants and 4 small flies, which were probably attracted by the scent of the lizard. This large polished amber nugget is stable, though there are a few hairline fractures which have been reinforced. The lizard measures 3 ½ inches in length with curved tail and the amber measures 3 ½ inches long.
This extraordinary specimen was examined and authenticated by Dr. George Poinar, retired Professor of Entomological Sciences at the University of California, Berkley. Dr. Poinar is a world renowned authority on amber and the fossils found within, having authored more than 40 scientific papers on amber and several books. The present specimen has been published in 2 of Dr. Poinar's books, one of which, "The Amber Forest, A Reconstruction of a Vanishing World", is included with this lot.

LIZARD TAIL WITH HIND LEGS INCASED IN AMBER
La Bucara Mine, La Cordillera Septentrional, Dominican Republic
The preservation of anything other than an insect in Amber is very rare and unusual but this is an extreme Amber inclusion: a lizard's tail accompanied by its hind legs! The specimen is well centered, and because of its size, easily viewed through the clear, well polished Amber. Besides the lizard tail with hind legs, there is a phorid fly and a gall gnat. The Amber itself measures 1 9/16 x 1 x ½ inches thick and has been authenticated by famed Amber expert Dr. David Grimaldi of the American Museum of Natural History. From a private Eastern collection.

EXTREMELY RARE MAMMAL HAIR IN AMBER
Upper Eocene
Samland Peninsular, Russia
All sorts of debris is captured by sticky tree resin as it rolls down the tree's trunk; usually it is simply floral detritus, but occasionally a small insect will find itself trapped, and more occasionally something truly intriguing such as the present specimen. Clearly visible through the pale golden lens of this clear amber nugget is a ½-inch tuft of many fine hairs left behind by some animal, a tantalizing hint of life in the prehistoric forests of today's Baltic coast. Containing also small mites and plant material, the nugget measures 1¼ x 1 3/8 x ¼ inches and is presented in a magnifier case.

AMBER NUGGET WITH LEAF
Oligocene
Dominican Republic
This beautiful golden nugget of amber represents the fossilized tree resin that seeped from the bark of a mighty evergreen 30 million years ago. As the sticky resin rolled down the tree, it engulfed a tiny leaf, perfectly preserving it for all eternity; every delicate vein is visible in a fine nugget of admirable clarity, domed and polished and measuring 1 1/8 x 7/8 x 3/8 inches.

AMBER NUGGET WITH RARE FLOWERS
Oligocene
Dominican Republic
Over 30 million years ago, as an ancient fruit tree's resin dripped slowly down its bark, it engulfed any floral and faunal debris that got in its way. Today, hardened into this beautiful soft yellow nugget of amber, it preserves four tiny flowers exactly as they were all those millions of years ago. The nugget is of excellent clarity and contains various other pieces of fascinating prehistoric plant life, and measures 1 1/16 x 13/16 x 3/8 inches.

MATING INSECTS IN AMBER
Upper Eocene
Samland Peninsular, Russia
On what is today the Baltic coast of Russia, towards the end of the Eocene epoch, this pair of prehistoric gnats was going about their natural business when a slow inexorable ooze of tree resin overcame them. 40 million years later, they remain perfectly preserved in suspended animation, locked together in their mating ritual for all eternity. Even though each measures only ¼ inch long, every last detail of their anatomy and reproductive activity can be observed through the crystal clear golden amber nugget, ½ x 3/8 x 1/8 inches, presented in a magnifier case. Insects in amber are rare but rarer still are those preserved in copula, a fascinating snapshot of the cycle of life from millions of years ago.

EGG-LAYING GNAT IN AMBER
Upper Eocene
Samland Peninsular, Russia
This is truly a remarkable snapshot of prehistoric life: trapped in the oozing resin of an ancient pine tree, this gnat has been perfectly preserved in the very act of laying its eggs. The insect itself measures 1/8 inches long and is beautifully captured in an open-winged pose in a flattened nugget 7/8 x 9/16 x 1/8 inches, presented in a magnifier case. A remarkable example of life and death captured for all eternity.

RARE CENTIPEDE IN AMBER
La Bucara Mine, La Cordillera Septentrional, Dominican Republic
Looking like he is ready to climb out of the Amber, this fine centipede is very well preserved in the center of this clear piece of Dominican Amber. Slightly curled, his fine details are visible to the naked eye. Overall the Amber measures 1 1/8 x ¾ x 3/8 inches thick. The Eastern collector who had it in his private collection has had it reviewed and authenticated by renowned Amber expert: Dr. David Grimaldi of the American Museum of Natural History.

AMBER NUGGET WITH TWO SPIDERS
Oligocene
Dominican Republic
The fossilized resin of the Oligocene fruit trees of today's Dominican Republic is beautiful golden amber, attractive enough in any form, but occasionally found with the spectacular preservation of prehistoric life. This fine nugget contains two small spiders, each held in suspended animation in exactly the same form as 30 million years ago, an incredible lens into the past. The nugget contains a streak of bubbling and has been polished into a domed form, measuring 13/8 x 7/8 x 3/8 inches.

AMBER NUGGET WITH FLYING ANT
Oligocene
Dominican Republic
The perfect preservation of life on Earth from millions of years ago is possible solely through the fossilization of tree resin into beautiful golden amber. This wonderful nugget contains a 30 million year old flying ant, its form unchanged since the moment it was engulfed in the sticky resin, and perfect in every detail, from the large delicate wings to the slender legs. A nugget of superb clarity, it has been polished into a triangular form and measures 7/8 x ¾ x 7/16 inches.

LARGE AMBER NUGGET WITH CLOUD OF INSECTS
La Bucara Mine, La Cordillera Septentrional, Dominican Republic
A cloud of insects has been captured in this uncommonly large piece of Amber, as if the sap of the ancient tree flowed very rapidly, quickly enveloping this teaming group of insects. There are over 50 insects and immature flowers including: rare Nasute termites, worker termites, a crane fly, a cricket, plunger mouth flies, spiders, ants, beetles, multiple stingless bees, moths, and unknown larvae. There are hours of identification and study in this single specimen. It is well polished, weighs 320 grams, measures 5 x 4 ¼ inches, is 1 1/2 inches thick and is in fine condition. This specimen comes from a private Eastern collection and has been vetted by famed Amber expert Dr. David Grimaldi of the American Museum of Natural History.

SUPERB INSECTS IN RARE CRYSTAL-CLEAR GREEN AMBER
Oligocene
Dominican Republic
This incredible nugget boasts almost complete crystal clarity, lovely banded orange-yellow shades of golden amber, finished off with a most beautiful pale green tint. Green is one of the rarest variations in amber, and this would be a beautiful and desirable nugget under any circumstances, but to make it all the more special it contains not only numerous small flies and midges, but also the perfectly preserved body of a rare treehopper, remarkably large at ½ inch long. Inclusions in green amber are extremely hard to find, and when they do occur they almost always have a distorted "burnt" appearance; in this instance, however, the insects are preserved perfectly, exactly as in life, making this beautiful piece a museum-grade specimen of remarkable size, 2 1/16 x 1 x 9/16 x 9/16 inches.

EXTREMELY RARE SNAIL PRESERVED IN AMBER
La Bucara Mine, La Cordillera Septentrional, Dominican Republic
An exceptional snail is the cornerstone of this fine piece of Amber - well preserved with exquisite detailing, the snail is accompanied by a giant ant, gnats, parasitic wasps, and ceratoponid fly. This unusual specimen comes from a private Eastern collection and has been vetted by famed Amber expert Dr. David Grimaldi of the American Museum of Natural History. Overall measurements are 2 5/8 x 1 5/8 inches and 5/8 inches thick.

SPLIT FOSSIL PINE CONE
Araucaria mirabilis
Jurassic
Patagonia, Argentina
The Araucaria species is one of the oldest tree-types still on this Earth, and one of the mightiest. Ancestor to the modern monkey-puzzle tree and the Norfolk pine, the A. mirabilis was a coniferous evergreen abundant across the Americas in the Jurassic period. The tallest recorded fossil specimen is 500 feet, high enough even to escape the long necks of the giant sauropods that leisurely grazed these pine forests, stripping the bark from the smaller branches and feasting on the cones with their nutrient-rich seeds. This single 3 3/8-inch cone, split and polished, not only shows what tasty treats they were, but also stands as an object of great aesthetic beauty in its own right. Beneath the heavily textured preserved scales of the cone's casing, the striking patterns of the seeds in the cross-cut and polished face sections are colored in a lovely soft pattern of cream, pale gray-brown and orangey salmon, highlighted at the center by a small patch of sparkling silvery pyritization, quite uncommon in these specimens.

FINE FOSSIL LEAF
Platanus wyomingensis
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
The survival of plant material in the fossil record is extremely rare, due to the swiftness of decay and the generally delicate nature of its construction. From the famed fossil beds of the Green River formation, however, comes this wonderfully preserved sycamore leaf. Its form is perfectly outlined, the veins clearly visible and even the gentle serrations to the leaves show excellent definition. Uncommonly large, it measures 4 7/8 inches long and is not the only item of interest in this matrix: as an added bonus, the remains of a small dragonfly, its body and wings, are clearly visible just next to the leaf, and elsewhere a small feather has also been preserved in the rock. A fine representative of 55 million year old flora and fauna, the whole plaque measures 7¾ x 6 inches.

FOSSIL LEAF COLLECTION
Various species
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
Because of the slow and lengthy nature of the fossilization process, vegetable matter is rarely preserved in the fossil record, usually decaying long before it can have a chance to be preserved in rock. The superb deposits of the Green River Formation in south-western Wyoming are one of the few places where dead flora and fauna was buried quickly enough by a covering of silt-mud to preserve this softer material, but even in such advantageous conditions, thin delicate leaves often remain hidden between the sedimentary layers. Here is a collection of four excellent examples, each clear and crisp in outline and detail to the veins and stalks. The largest leaf in this collection measures 4 7/8 inches long on a 6½ x 5-inch matrix and the smallest, which appears to be a small example from the Cardiospermum coloradensis, or Balloon Vine, measures just under 2 inches long on a 3 x 2 1/8-inch matrix.

SUPERB COMPLETE SABRE-TOOTHED CAT SKULL
Hoplophoneus primaevus
Oligocene
Brule Formation, Shannon County, South Dakota, USA
Sabre-toothed "cats" first appeared in the fossil record 34-38 million years ago. Their hyper-developed canine teeth were essentially finely-serrated knives specialized for killing or feeding. Many scientists have theorized about how the cats used these formidable weapons, but the most likely explanation is that they developed a hunting style that allowed them to capture prey and deliver a "coup de grace" by severing the jugular or other critical blood supply, or slicing through the windpipe. This would render the prey instantly inactive and thus minimize injury risk to themselves from the normal struggles of dying prey, some of which would have been significantly larger than the cat. A cat who lost one or both of his sabres in combat would have been at a severe disadvantage and probably would not have survived very long unless he developed a new hunting style focused on smaller prey. This fossil cat skull is of Hoplophoneus, a solitary hunter with a probable lifestyle very similar to the modern leopard. Because these cats were solitary hunters with large territories, their fossil remains are much rarer than herd or pack animals; only isolated finds are made, and never more than one animal in the same area unless it was a den. By contrast, the probable primary prey for this cat, Oreodons, are found quite literally by the hundreds in these same fossil beds. In addition, the natural ratio of prey to predator means that there were at least 50 prey animals in a fauna for every predator, only a few percent of which were sabre-cats. This outstanding skull is virtually complete with only minor restoration. It has an excellent set of teeth which range from a gorgeous caramel brown to yellow in color, and the skull is almost perfectly inflated with no distortion - a truly exceptional occurrence. Measures 8 1/4 inches long by 7 3/4 inches high by 4 1/2 inches wide with 3 inch sabers. This specimen is a museum-grade display item of the highest quality and rarity, worthy of the most discriminating collector.

SUPERB SABER-TOOTHED CAT SKULL
Dinicits squalidens
Oligocene, Chattian Stage
Scenic Member, Brule Formation, Pennington Co, South Dakota
Dinictis was one of the very first saber-toothed cats to develop that have been preserved in the fossil record, appearing approximately 38 million years ago. It was a swift predator and member of the Nimravidae family, the "false" saber-toothed cats, similar though not related to the famous Smilodon. Their hyper-developed canine teeth were essentially finely-serrated knives specialized for killing or feeding. This fossil cat, Dinictis, was definitely a solitary hunter with a probable lifestyle very similar to that of a modern leopard. Because of this solitary lifestyle and the fact that they ranged across wide territories, their fossil remains are very much rarer than those of herd or pack animals. With a natural ecosystem prey-to-predator ratio of 50 to 1 (which has been established fairly consistently throughout the fossil record and even to the present day), fossilized carnivores are 50 times rarer than herbivores, and cats are the rarest of all carnivores, comprising only a percent or two of the total. Thus, a cat fossil is at least a thousand times rarer than that of any of his prey animals. As a result, the current specimen is especially important, in good condition, with lovely bone texture and patination. It measures 7 inches long by 4¾ inches wide and is raised to a height of 7¼ inches on a metal and wood display stand.

MAMMOTH TUSK
Mammuthus primigenuis
Pleistocene
Alaska
This fine female mammoth tusk was found perfectly preserved in the frozen Alaskan tundra. It retained the classic double curve of which mammoths are known and displays a natural coloration of ivory creams, browns and blue; the blues are caused from an iron phosphate called vivianite and they combine with the natural browns of the ivory to a lovely aesthetic effect. The tip is completely natural and at the other end it boasts a great root cavity that was kept in one piece. The slenderness suggests a female tusk and due to the length it can be assumed to be from a sub adult. There were a few cracks that were filled, but overall less than 5% restoration was needed. Mounted on a custom oak stand, it measures 8 feet, 2 ¼ inches along the outside curve.

FINE PAIR OF MAMMOTH TUSKS
Mammuthus primigenius
Pleistocene
Alaska, U.S.A.
As the tundra slowly recedes from the "top of the world", more and more Ice Age Mammoth remains are uncovered each year. It is still extremely rare, however, to find tusks of this size, and even more so, in an actual pair. Most tusks are unearthed singly, and when pairs are presented for sale, they are most often matched. This, however, is a true pair, the two tusks from the same ancient animal, and what a pair it is: each tusk boasts a massive girth of 16 3/8 inches and only one shows some (minor) tip restoration. The surface of the ivory is undulating and pitted with battle scars, and the lovely creamy white ground is streaked with dark warm brown and hints of blue and green from mineral-bearing water seepage. Both display the classic double curve that distinguishes mammoth from elephant tusks, and one has a good root section whilst the other has been broken off further down, allowing a fascinating glimpse of the interior structure of the tusk. Presented on wooden stands, they make for extremely impressive display pieces, and measure 60 3/8 and 74½ inches long around the outside of the curves.

WHOLE MAMMOTH FORE-LEG
Mammathus primigenius
Pleistocene
Alaska
This massive heavy specimen is the front right leg of the extinct woolly mammoth. A lumbering tundra-dweller covered in thick shaggy fur like that of today's musk-ox, they were not in fact as large as popular perception would have them, barely out sizing the modern-day Asian Elephant at 9-13 feet tall, although they would tend to be rather heavier (the Siberian Songhua River Mammoth, however, could have grown as large as 17 feet tall). This striking piece comprises the scapula, humerus, radius, ulna and the metacarpals of the five-toed foot. These last are impressively hefty, as they would need to be as the giant beast actually walked on "tiptoe". The bones exhibit a lovely dark gray-brown patination and beautiful grainy bone texture. Most interesting of all, however, several areas are distinctively patterned with what looks like butchery marks, where the hunter's knife sliced through the thick coat and the flesh right down to the bone. A spectacular display, the leg is mounted on a metal armature and stands a full 7 feet high.

PYGMY MAMMOTH PALATE WITH TWO TEETH
Mammuthus primigenius
Holocene
Wrangel Island, Siberia
This excellent specimen comes from the roof of the mouth of a wooly mammoth. It represents the palate section of the maxilla, complete with two finely preserved teeth. The bone illustrates the fascinating inner structure of the front part of the skull and exhibits lovely bone texture and a warm woody patination. The teeth themselves show considerable wear, exposing the distinctive lamellar structure of their interior, and indicate a mature animal; yet their small size is such that one can only conclude that they come from a pygmy version of the giant mammoth, such as are known from the Californian Channel Islands (separate species M.exilis), St Paul's Island and, as here Wrangel Island, where the population survived until almost 3,500 years ago. A fine and unusual specimen, it boasts teeth measuring 2 1/8 inches wide and is 6 1/8 x 5 x 4½ inches overall.

PYGMY MAMMOTH TOOTH
Mammuthus primigenius
Holocene
Wrangel Island, Siberia
It seems odd that such a comparatively small tooth should come from a creature we regard as a massive lumbering beast, but the mammoths of Wrangle Island in the Arctic Circle, as a few other populations did elsewhere, developed a form of insular dwarfism resulting in creatures a fraction of the size of their mainland relatives. It is easy to see that this tooth came from a pygmy version: the wear to the upper grinding surface of the tooth is so extensive that it could not possibly come from a juvenile. It boasts a terrific root section and warm gray, black and brown coloring, and measures 2 x 1 3/8 x 2¼ inches.

WOOLLY MAMMOTH HAIR
Mammuthus primigenius
Pleistocene
Yakatia, Siberia, Russia
This rare and comparatively large sample of Woolly Mammoth "wool" was recovered from the frozen carcass of an Ice Age mammoth in the wilds of Siberia. The mammoth's thick shaggy coating of hair could grow up to 20 inches long, and its skin contained numerous sebaceous glands which secreted greasy fat into the hair further to improve its insulating qualities. Such hair has been used to collect approximately 80% of the mammoth's DNA and it has been established that their genome is similar enough to that of the African elephant that a complex procedure of cell-modification and artificial insemination could in fact produce a live mammoth birth from an elephant mother. The present sample comprises good thick hairs, representing a larger amount than one is usually able to obtain of these rare Ice Age remnants.

ANCIENT WALRUS SKULL
Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus
This complete and impressive skull was dug up from a depth of 8 to 14 feet at Northeast Point on Saint Paul Island, Alaska, a part of the Pribilof Island Group, by R.E. Edberg II, during the spring of 1936. The long passage of time during which it was buried at such a depth has imparted a rich cream and light brown color to the tusks, teeth and skull; a researcher of Marine Mammals from the Chicago Field Museum, C.J. Albrecht, estimated this skull to be 2000 years old based on his knowledge of when Walrus last inhabited the Island. This large Bull Walrus skull is one of the finest examples of its kind ever found and measures 18 x 12½ x 9¾ inches, raised to an overall height of 33¾ inches on a wooden display stand. The tusks themselves measure 28 x 27¾ inches long and are 7 1/8 inches around each base.

SUPERB ICHTHYOSAUR SKULL AND ROSTRUM
Ichthyosaurus communis
Lower Jurassic, Sinemurian Stage
Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK
The ancient aquatic reptile, the Ichthyosaur, is closely linked with Lyme Regis on the southern coast of England. The first complete fossil of the animal was discovered there in the early 1800's by 10-year old Mary Anning and in 2000 the largest ever example found anywhere in the world, at a stunning 40 feet in length, was unearthed by fossil hunter Tony Gill. This specimen displays the fantastic state of preservation characteristic of fossils from the area, the "Jurassic Coast" World Heritage Site. It boasts superb three-dimensionality, in particular to the bristling rows of pointed teeth, with lovely woody black patination and superlative bone texture throughout. Much of the curious sclerotic ring remains in the eye socket; this was the bone that supported the animal's eyeball, non-spherical and proportionately the largest of any animal that ever lived. There is even a scattering of the disc-like components of one of the fore-flippers; these small bones suggest evolution from something more like a hand, and it is supposed that the ichthyosaur developed from a land-dwelling creature. Indeed, even back in the water it retained the need to breathe air, but as it adapted to life in the ocean, it developed a sleek, streamlined body, powerful flippers and the ability to dive to great depths, much like today's cetaceans. This is a first-class specimen with minimal restoration, from a world-renowned locality. The skull measures 23½ inches in length, standing out beautifully in high relief and aesthetically contrasting with its pale gray matrix, 37 x 23 inches.

RARE FOSSIL PLESIOSAUR PADDLE
Suborder: Plesiosauridae, unknown species
Cretaceous, Campanian Stage
Pierre Shale, Fusion Canyon, South Dakota
73 million years ago the Midwest of North America was a warm shallow seaway teeming with exotic life. Part of this sea deposited as the Pierre Shale and contains well-preserved fossils ranging from the nautilus-like Ammonites to giant lizard-like Mosasaurs. Amongst the most exciting and rare fauna from this area are the Plesiosaurs, large carnivorous aquatic marine reptiles with long necks that swam using four paddles like underwater wings to fly through the water. Comprising numerous families, Plesiosaurs hold an esteemed position in paleontology as the apex marine predators of the Mesozoic era. They grew up to 60 feet in length and had jaws of razor sharp teeth for catching fish and other prey. Plesiosaurs died out at the end of the Cretaceous in the K-T mass extinction 65 million years ago, although some claim they survived the extinction and can explain the sightings of sea serpents and lake monsters today; the Loch Ness Monster is frequently claimed as a Plesiosaur, and the discovery of a carcass with flippers and a long neck in 1977 prompted a Plesiosaur craze in Japan (it was most likely the decayed remains of a Basking Shark). This rare specimen is the hind paddle belonging to an individual that was likely over 25 feet long, from an unidentified Plesiosaur species. Because of the large number of relatively small bones, it is very rare to find paddle elements all from the same individual; these were found within a 4 square-meter area. Most of the bones in the present specimen are original with few being casts from the originals. The pelvic girdle, femur and other major bones have little restoration and the bones are set in a gypsum matrix that is colored with both matrix paint and ground pieces of Pierre Shale. The entire piece is backed with wood and resin for stability, and measures 44 x 35 inches.

FINE FOSSIL CROCODILE SKULL
Dyrosaurus phosphaticus
Eocene
Ouled Abdoun phosphate basin, Morocco
This is a beautiful example of the skull of the D. phosphaticus, an extinct ancestor of today's crocodiles. Little is known about the species, but the long slender jaw and numerous recurvate teeth immediately indicate a formidable predator. The masses of wicked-looking teeth that line the creature's snout are stunningly presented, prepared free-standing and display good enamel coverage. The rest of the skull is similarly fine, with wonderful bone texture and excellent three-dimensionality in a side-view preparation. The species is named for the abundant Moroccan phosphate beds in which it is found, but few survive in a stable enough condition to be removed entirely from their field jackets, and are often crushed or the bones widely scattered. This is therefore a fine and rare example, measuring 39½ inches long, beautifully presented on a ground of orange-brown sand in a molded gilt frame, 30½ x 54¼ inches, suitable for hanging.

A TRIASSIC REPTILE
Keichousaurus hui
Triassic
Tingziao Formation, Guizhou Province, People's Republic Of China
This skeleton is from a superorder of primitive aquatic reptiles known as the Sauropterygia, meaning "lizard flippers". The name of this well-known species derives from Kweichow (now Guizhou Province) in China where the first fossil specimen of the genus was discovered in 1957. Their well-developed shoulder muscles have prompted the speculation that they were land-dwelling animals, or at least amphibious, who eventually adapted to become fully aquatic. Victims of the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event, their prior evolutionary history is uncertain, but it is generally accepted that they subsequently evolved into the more familiar marine forms with fully paddled feet, known to us as the plesiosaurs, pliosaurs and elasmosaurs. This beautiful specimen is well-prepared with uncommon clarity and displays the characteristic long neck, short limbs and heavy ribs of its species, standing out in a rich black color from the 12¼ x 6½-inch pale gray matrix.

FOSSIL FISH TILE MURAL
Priscacara liops, Knightia eocaena, Knightia alta
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
This highly decorative mural is comprised of 31 tiles of Green River limestone, sixteen of which each contains a beautifully preserved fossil fish. The Green River Formation is famed for producing some of the very finest fish fossils in the world, in great abundance and variety, and their high quality is perfectly demonstrated here. Every one of the fossils displays the exceptional detail and definition one expects from this locality; four of them are the plump and characterful P. liops, an extinct species of perch and a highly popular fossil from the region, and the remaining fish are a mixture of the K. eocaena and the less-common, fat-bodied K. alta, amongst the most populace species in these ancient waters. The tiles are arranged in a stepped diamond shape and the whole piece measures 71 7/8 x 48 inches overall; with the strong dark brown of the fish standing in lovely contrast to the soft cream limestone, it makes for a superb and eye-catching display piece.

MULTIPLE FISH PLATE
Priscacara liops, Knightia eocaena
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
This plaque represents the mortality event from 50 million years ago of a whole clutch of freshwater fish, their skeletons beautifully preserved and exposed in a slab of the famed Green River limestone matrix. Two species are represented, the two larger specimens being an extinct type of perch, the Priscacara, and the numerous smaller fish belonging to the Knightia genus, the most plentiful inhabitant of these waters and official State Fossil of Wyoming. Most of the specimens show the characteristically high level of detail and preservation, but some are presented evocatively as almost ghostly imprints on the rock. Their soft brown coloring harmonizes beautifully with the pale stone matrix, of irregular shape and measuring 35¼ x 56 inches.

EXCEPTIONAL FOSSIL GARFISH
Lepisosteus simplex
Eocene
Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming
The Green River Garfish is one of the very rarest species in the abundant fossil record of the "Fossil Lake" area, and this is genuinely a first-class example. It was a slender eel-like creature with an elongated toothy snout; in addition to this effective predatory weapon, the body was encased in tightly-layered armor-like scales, making it a formidable presence in the 50 million year old waters. The Garfish was most probably found basking near the surface and, unusually, often breathing the atmospheric air. This specimen displays the highest standard of preparation and preservation, even for fossils from this region, with superb three-dimensionality from the bony head to the delicate fin and tail bones. Best of all are the layers of ganoid scales, thick heavy diamond-shaped plates with a lovely smooth, shimmering enamel-like surface of a natural chocolate brown coloration. This is an uncommonly large example, measuring 24 7/8 inches in length and its soft brown coloring in perfect harmony with the creamy limestone matrix, 19 x 32 inches - a truly world-class specimen.

SUPERB MULTI-FISH PLAQUE
Priscacara liops, Priscacara serrata, Knightia eocaena, Knightia alta, Diplomystus dentata
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
Known now as the "Fossil Lake", 50 million years ago the 25,000 square mile Green River Formation in Wyoming was an interconnected system of subtropical inland freshwater lakes. Today it is one of the most abundant and well-preserved sources of freshwater fossils in the world, producing some 19 genera of fish from the Eocene epoch. This superb plaque displays something of that abundance and variety, with multiple examples of separate species, from the larval Diplomystus (2 7/8 inches long) to the fearsome looking full-grown version (18½ inches long). The predaceous Diplomystus is a relative of today's herring, with a distinctive upturned mouth bristling with teeth, ideally suited to surface-feeding. One of its most common prey was the smaller Knightia, also a relative of the herring and an abundant denizen of the Fossil Lake as well as Wyoming's official State Fossil. It is represented here by four K. eocaena and three of the smaller, fatter K. alta. Two species of Priscacara also roamed these waters, the P. liops which rarely exceeded 6 inches in length, and the P. serrata which is represented here by an 11¼-inch example. The notable aspect of all fossils from this locality is the superb state of preservation they display, and the incredible skill of the local preparators, perfectly exhibited by the present example. The fish all boast the superb detail of bone structure and texture familiar in these specimens, and their dark brown coloring stands out in striking contrast from the pale cream matrix; an outstanding display piece, it measures 39½ x 51¼ inches.

FINE FOSSIL STINGRAY

Heliobatus radians
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
Many of the aquatic animals that lived in the Fossil Lake of the Green River formation were descendants of marine species cut off from the oceans as the North American continents rose slowly from the primordial waters that covered much of the globe. This is the reason why the traditionally ocean-dwelling sting-ray was to be found in these fresh waters. Like their modern-day descendants, they were placid bottom dwellers, the fearsome tail barbs providing an excellent deterrent to predators who might otherwise have enjoyed them as a tasty dinner. As might be expected, the remains of these thin, delicate flat fish are rare. They are cartilaginous, a characteristic highly antipathetic to fossilization, and although the strata of the "18-inch layer" of the Fossil Lake make it relatively easy to remove the abundant fossils found there, the "wing" bones of the ray present one of the greatest challenges to the excavator, having the thickness of only two sheets of paper. The preparator's skill is likewise keenly tested in its presentation, and the fine detail of the present example is testament to a master of this most painstaking art. Detail to the body, fins and tail is excellent, and as an added bonus, the heavy barb is easily identifiable. The "wingspan" of this specimen is 6½ inches and its soft brown coloring harmonizes nicely with the pale cream limestone of the matrix; swimming dangerously close to the dangerous stinger is a small school of herring-like Knightia. The whole plaque measures 24 x 33½ inches overall.

PREHISTORIC SHARK TOOTH
Carcharocles megalodon
Miocene
Morgan River, South Carolina
The teeth of the giant shark-like Megalodon are amongst the most prized specimens for the prehistoric collector. They are similar to those of today's Great White, but considerably larger, and the present example came from a real monster. It was the largest carnivorous fish ever to have swum the oceans of our planet, and at over 50 feet in length, its mouth bristling with rows of these monstrous tearing and rending tools, a terrifying beast to encounter in the murky depths. Although their relation to today's sharks is in some dispute, they shared with them the characteristic cartilaginous skeleton, unpreserved by the fossil record, and so their amazing teeth are all that remain to us of this great hunter. The example here has a lovely covering of gray enamel, enlivened by a soft blue blush, a heavy woody-textured root and excellently-defined serrations. At 5 ¾ inches long on the diagonal side, it is a fine and large specimen.

PREHISTORIC SHARK TOOTH
Carcharocles megalodon
Miocene
Suwanee River, Florida
In the ancient oceans of the Miocene epoch, 23-5 million years ago, one creature ruled the deep. The fearsome Megalodon was a giant shark-like fish, sharing many characteristics with today's Great White, including a cartilaginous skeleton. This has meant that next to nothing remains to us in the fossil record of these monstrous beasts apart from the enormous and deadly-looking teeth, much-prized by fossil collectors the world over. Divers must brave freezing and pitch black waters to grub for these marvels along muddy river beds and only a small number (15%) are discovered intact. At over fifty feet in length, the Megalodon was the largest carnivorous fish ever to hunt the earth's oceans, and just one specimen like this is enough to suggest what a horrifying sight a full jaw of these vicious triangular teeth would have been. The present example has been polished over its enamel coating and boasts a most attractive and unusual bi-colored patterning, lovely woody brown bordered by delicate creamy tan. It retains excellent definition to the innumerable tiny serrations along each edge and it measures 5 9/16 along the diagonal, a large and fine specimen.

RARE FOSSIL FEATHER
Unknown species
Eocene
Green River Formation, Wyoming
This is a beautifully preserved feather from the famous Green River Formation in Wyoming. It shows fantastic detail and superb definition to the vein and the barbs. The species from which this feather came is undetermined, but it was most likely a wading bird who stalked over the interconnected series of 55 million year old lakes looking for the tasty fish that were so abundant in these ancient waters. The feather itself measures 3 3/8 inches long in a 5 5/8 x 3½-inch rectangular matrix with one corner terminated.

RARE PRIMITIVE FOSSIL BIRD
Confuciusornis sanctus
Cretaceous, Aptian Stage
Yixian Formation, Sihetun Sites, Liaoning Province, China
Due to their delicate hollow bones, birds stand little chance of preservation in the fossil record; this specimen, however, is so fine that even the feather detail can easily be seen. Perfectly positioned, belly up and with its wings open, it is amongst the finest examples of its rare kind. The skull and primitive, edentulous beak are excellently preserved, and there is superb three-dimensionality to the limbs, right down to the curving raptor-like toe claws and the paired tail feathers that identify this specimen as a male. The first ancient bird to be discovered outside Germany, Confuciusornis sanctus retains many of the primitive dinosaurian features exhibited by the world famous Archaeopteryx specimens from Solnhofen, but has shed the bony tail vertebra in favor of a short, fused pygostyle bone, and is notable for its lack of teeth - the first recorded bird to exhibit these features. A tremendously important species, this 125 million-year-old bird is the earliest known beaked bird fossil and a fascinating link with the terrestrial dinosaurs. The fossil itself measures 10¼ inches long and is presented under Plexiglas in a mahogany frame, 18¾ x 13 5/8 inches overall.

FOSSIL CRAB
Cancer sismondae
Miocene
Puglia, Italy
This fine example of a fossilized crab has been artfully prepared on the original sandstone block to afford unobstructed views of both the carapace and the structure of the underside of the soft body that the shell protects. Crabs are known from as far back as Jurassic times, although a primitive crab (Imocaris) dates to as far back as the Carboniferous, 350-300 million years ago. This is a fine example and the level of preserved detail to all areas is superb, with finely shaped claws and excellent three-dimensionality to the horny protuberances that cover the arms and the rim of the shell. Emerging from a sandstone block it measures 5¾ inches across and stands 5 7/8 inches high.

SUPERB FOSSIL LOBSTER
Eryon arctiformis
Jurassic, Tithonian Stage
Malm Zeta, Solnhofen Formation, Eichstätt, Germany
Solnhofen has long been known as one of the most important fossil localities in the world for the superb quality of its fine-grained lithographic limestone. Even by the standards of the locale, however, this is a truly remarkable specimen. The Eryon was a lobster-like crustacean which could capture large prey with its pinchers, perfectly preserved here in astonishing detail and outstanding three-dimensionality across the whole piece, from the tips of the feelers to the sectional tail fan. A first-class specimen with almost no restoration, it measures 3 inches long in a triangular matrix plate, 8½ x 10 5/8 inches.

SPECTACULAR FOSSIL SHRIMP - POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
Aeger tipularis
Jurassic Tithonian Stage
Malm Zeta, Solnhofen Formation, Eichstätt, Germany
This incredible fossil represents one of the finest examples of the world-famous specimens from the lithographic limestone lagerstätte of Solnhofen in southern Germany. Not only is it most unusual to find a fossil in both its positive and negative forms, but even by the standards of this high-quality locale, this shrimp boasts exceptional preservation and detail. On both halves the slender antennae curve gracefully across the matrix, emerging from the well-defined head with good detail to the rostrum and even to the eye. The mass of combed walking legs and swimmerets shows excellent definition and the body and tail shell exhibit terrific three-dimensionality, even retaining their enamel-like finish. A truly world-class piece, the fossil itself measures 5½ inches around the curve displaying a lovely brown color against the soft pale cream of the irregularly shaped matrices, each approximately 15 x 14 inches.

FINE FOSSIL CRINOID PLATE
Several species
Carboniferous, Mississippian epoch, Osagean stage
Edwardsville Farm, Crawfordville, Montgomery County, Indiana, USA
The crinoid, known also as the sea lily or feather star, is one of the world's so-called "living fossils", counting amongst their distant relatives the starfish, brittle star and sea urchin. They are filter feeders, grabbing microscopic particles on which to feed as great forests of them sway back and forth on the ocean floor. This fine example is from the famed Crawfordsville crinoid beds and was prepared in situ by master preparator Tom Witherspoon, whose work can be found in most of the major Natural History Museums across the world, including the Smithsonian and the Field Museum of Chicago. Mr. Witherspoon's skill is immediately evident in the superb three-dimensionality of this natural assemblage and the exquisitely delicate detail of the fossils themselves, which include the stems and crowns of eight separate specimens representing five different species, in a rhomboid matrix 17 x 7¼ inches. Each specimen is numbered on the reverse to correspond to a species identification chart.

SUPERB PRECIOUS GEM AMMONITE
Placenticeras meeki
Upper Cretaceous
Bearpaw formation, Alberta, Canada
Gem ammonites are among the most sought-after of all fossils, and the present specimen is among the finest example. It is extremely rare that both sides of the ammonite are almost completely covered in bright, vibrant colors - and this specimen is one of those rare exceptions. One side displays a rainbow of opalescent colors of fiery red, flashing green and glittering golden yellow and even displays rare iridescent colors of blue and turquoise, while the reveres is predominantly the most desirable of reds with highlights of yellow and green. This rainbow spectrum is characteristic of only the most desirable examples, and it is extremely rare to find all of these attributes in a single ammonite of this prestigious size of 20 ½ inches in diameter.

The beautiful iridescent colors that shimmer throughout the shell were naturally created by the combination of millions of years of compression and the mineralization of iron, copper and silica, which precipitated from the bentonite sediment of volcanic ash. In most cases elsewhere, the aragonite-rich nacre (mother-of-pearl) of the ammonite's shell is pseudomorphously replaced by calcite or pyrite. In the Bearpaw formation, stretching over parts of Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan, however, the ammonite's shell becomes tainted with trace elements such as manganese, strontium, titanium, barium and others, manifested in the dazzling colors displayed here. Practitioners of Feng Shui and crystal metaphysics value it as the Kirin stone, or seven color prosperity stone, and believe it to be useful in detoxifying the body and promoting energy flow and prosperity. In 1981 it was accorded gemstone status by the World Jewelry Confederation; unlike other gemstones, however, whose brilliance is caused by light reflected from the surface, the shimmering and ever-changing colors of ammolite are the result of light refracting through and rebounding from the thin platelets of aragonite in the shell.

FINE DOUBLE AMMONITE WALL PLAQUE
Placenticeras meeki
Cretaceous
Bearpaw Formation, Southern Alberta, Canada
Gem ammolite ammonites are amongst the most sought-after of all fossils, and here are not one but two examples. In most localities the aragonite-rich nacre (mother-of-pearl) of the ammonite's shell is pseudomorphously replaced by calcite or pyrite, but in the small Bearpaw formation, stretching over parts of Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the ammonite's shell becomes tainted with trace elements such as manganese, strontium, titanium, barium and others, manifested in the dazzling colors displayed here. The resulting gemstone is called ammolite, and it has long been believed by the local Blackfeet Indians of Montana and the Káínawa of southern Alberta to have amuletic powers of use in healing and in attracting buffalo. Practitioners of feng shui and crystal metaphysics value it as the Kirin stone or seven-color prosperity stone, and believe it to be useful in detoxifying the body and promoting energy flow and prosperity. In 1981 it was accorded gemstone status by the World Jewelry Confederation; it is one of several biogenic gemstones, like amber and pearl, and can be grouped with other shell-based marbles such as lumachella, or "fire marble", formed from the fossilized shells of clams or snails. The present specimens are particularly fine for not only do they flash with the familiar golden green color; they also display an equal amount of the much rarer purple and blue coloring. Stunning examples, they measure 9¼ and 6 1/8 inches in diameter, perfectly offset by the gray shale matrix that measures 30 x 27 inches and is ready for wall-hanging.

GEM AMMOLITE FOSSIL AMMONITE

Placenticeras meeki
Cretaceous
Bearpaw Formation, Southern Alberta, Canada
A dazzling example of these highly sought-after specimens, this bright, colorful ammonite flashes with golden green and fiery orange-red across the whole of its surface. It measures 12½ inches across and displays areas of three-dimensionality unusual for these specimens. The 23½ x 19½-inch dark-gray shale matrix provides the perfect background to highlight the dramatic aesthetic contrast of the fossil, whose shimmering iridescent colors were naturally created through the combination of millions of years of compression and the mineralization of iron, copper and silica which precipitated from volcanic ash. The resulting gemstone is known as Ammolite, and can be found only in this locality in southern Alberta, valued by local tribes for its powers of healing and of attracting buffalo. Unlike other gemstones, whose brilliance is caused by light reflected from the surface, the shimmering and ever-changing colors of ammolite are the result of light refracting through and rebounding from thin platelets of aragonite, the primary constituent of the ammonite's shell.

MOTHER-OF-PEARL AMMONITE GROUPING
Caloceras johnstoni
Jurassic, Hettangian Stage
Watchet, Somerset, UK
This plaque offers a superb illustration of the rare preservation of the Ammonite's nacreous shell-lining. This mother-of-pearl like substance is present in the shells of all ammonites, but is most often destroyed by the processes of fossilization; in certain localities, however, conditions are such that the shimmering character of the shell's interior is preserved as here. Alternating layers of aragonite and conchiolin refract the light into separate frequencies and produce this lovely opalescent effect. Specimens from this region of southern England are typically crushed flat, which has the advantage of displaying the maximum amount of shell surface over which colors of pinkish bronze tinged with golden green play beautifully. This matrix boasts three good-sized specimens, the largest of which is 4¾ inches across, all retaining good shell texture despite their flattened state. Also present is one smaller 1¼-inch example, and a multitude of tiny specimens grouped together. Their wonderful coloring is perfectly offset by the gray shale matrix, which measures 13 7/8 x 10¼ inches.

AMMOLITE GEMSTONE
Placenticeras meeki
Cretaceous
Bearpaw Formation, Southern Alberta, Canada
Ammolite, one of the last precious gemstones to be named is also one of the rarest. Found only in one small part of southern Alberta, Canada, it is the mineralized remains of ammonite shells. Over millions of years of compression and mineralization by iron, copper and silica precipitated from volcanic ash, the mother-of-pearl lining of the ammonites were transformed into rare and beautiful ammolite. This is a fine example, flashing with green, yellow and red, and measures 1 9/16 x 1 x 1/8 inches

AMMOLITE GEMSTONE
Placenticeras meeki
Cretaceous
Bearpaw Formation, Southern Alberta, Canada
Known to the local Káínawa, or Blood Tribe Indians as "aapok", ammolite is a rare and highly desirable, recently classified precious gemstone formed from the mother-of-pearl lining of 65 million of year old ammonite shells. This example boasts the incredible iridescent colors associated with the stone, flashing with shades of red, yellow, orange and green, and measures 1 7/16 x 1 3/16 x 1/8 inches.

AMMOLITE GEMSTONE
Placenticeras meeki
Cretaceous
Bearpaw Formation, Southern Alberta, Canada
This beautiful natural gemstone takes its name from the animal from whose shell it is formed - the ammonite. Over millions of years, the mother-of-pearl shell lining has been transformed into this gorgeous gemstone, flashing with iridescent colors of green, red and yellow, with even a hint of the rare turquoise color. Part of its remarkable appearance is due to the fact that, unlike other gemstones whose brilliance is caused by light reflected from the surface, the shimmering colors of ammolite result from light refraction through the thin layers of aragonite that constituted the ammonite's original shell. This is a lovely example, and measures 2 3/8 x 1 x 1/8 inches.

LARGE FRENCH AMMONITE
Arietites bucklandi
Lower Jurassic, Lower Sinemurian
France
This is a beautiful and enormous example of the Arietites sp. ammonite, preserved and prepared in superb condition with excellent detail to the ridges of the shell and a strong black color. The species is named for Rev. William Buckland, Canon of Christ Church and Reader in Geology and Minerolagy at Oxford University in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. He spent much time exploring the Jurassic Coast of Dorset around the town of Lyme Regis and in his history of the Royal Geological Society (1907) H.B. Woodward notes: "Buckland, always an enthusiastic collector, once found a large form of Ammonites bucklandi [now Arietites bucklandi ] without the inner whorls...he thrust his head through the stony ring and rode home, dubbed by his friends the 'Ammon Knight' ". An excellent display piece, this robust example measures an impressive 23½ inches wide and positioned upright on a section of contrasting pale gray matrix, it stands 22¾ inches tall.

SUPERB AMMONITE
Perisphinctes sp.
Jurassic, Oxfordian Stage
Madagascar
This lovely ammonite from Madagascar has it all: fully prepared on both sides it retains superb three-dimensionality to the ribbed, coiled form and boasts a good expanse of the original shell covering in a chalky white, almost opalescent, coloring. Where the shell is lacking, however, one is afforded a fascinating view of the inner structure, the characterful growth patterns forming fern-like markings in lovely soft shades of brown and cream, and the shell itself terminates in the three-dimensional bronchiate forms of this sutured growth. A lovely example of a beautiful and classic fossil, it measures 9¼ inches in diameter and is well-presented on a metal display stand.

A SUPERB AMMONITE FROM BAJA
Pachydiscus catarinae (Neodesmoceras)
Cretaceous
Rosario Formation, Baja California Norte, Mexico
These gorgeous ammonites were first discovered during quarrying operations started in the early 1800's to supply some of the lovely marble and limestone that was used in the post Gold Rush building boom in San Francisco as it developed into an international business and trade center. Classical architecture and high rise buildings lent an aura of sophistication and opulence to what was once a dangerous and dingy port city as the wealth borne of the Gold Rush found its way into monuments to the new wealth and splendor of the city's elite. These quarries were located south of Ensenada, and ships loaded with the building stone would sometimes have a few of these interesting and very rare ammonites sent along with the shipment which then found their way into museums and private collections in the newly affluent California. The quarries that once produced these fabulous specimens have been closed for over 50 years and private collecting is no longer allowed in Mexico making these ammonites irreplaceable. Pachydiscus were especially prized for their large size, very fat or inflated shape, and especially, for the beautiful suture, or growth, lines which form frond-like patterns over their entire surface. This specimen is especially aesthetic with nearly perfect suture lines and a lovely onyx-brown color. Measures 8 ½ x 7 ½ x 4 inches thick at its widest.

HOLZMADEN AMMONITE PLATE
Dactylioceras commune
Jurassic, Toarcian Stage
Posidonia Shale, Holzmaden, Germany
This extremely large mass mortality plate was found in one piece in one of the world's most famous fossil quarries - Holzmaden in southern Germany. The location is justly famous for the exceptional quality of the many fossils that are found there, notable not only for their aesthetic qualities but also for their scientific significance. The dark gray shale rock is a perfect background for the gently shimmering golden color of the numerous ammonite specimens here, and makes for a wonderfully striking display piece; the largest ammonite measures 9½ inches in diameter and the whole plate is 58 x 43 inches.

OUTSTANDING "FLYING DINOSAUR"
Pteranodon sternbergi
Upper Cretaceous
Niobrara Formation, Smoky Hill Chalk, Lane Co, Kansas
The Pteranodons were the dominant flying creatures of their day, with wingspans greater than any living bird and highly specialized wing membranes that helped make them superb flyers. They lived primarily at sea and their skeletons have been discovered 250 miles from the nearest shoreline, although tracks in the fossil record indicate that they could also walk on all fours when necessary. Strictly speaking, being airborne, they were not technically dinosaurs, but two further elements make the distinction plain: they had warm blood and although evidence of feathers has not been found, many were covered in a coat of hair. With hollow bones and delicately lightweight construction, they achieved the power of flight, creatures halfway between reptile and bird. For the very same anatomical reasons, however, they have fared less well in the fossil record, too often pulverized to an unidentifiable dust; either that or, when recovered, all that remains are the wing bones, the bodies having been eaten by their primary antagonist, the terrible Mosasaur. This is one of the finest Pteranodon skeletons to come to light in recent years; 75-80% complete, all of the primary skeletal elements have been preserved, including the notarium, hips, sternum, gastralia and ribs, legs and elements of the wing claws (hands) and feet, plus an excellent skull. The bones exhibit a lovely texture and remarkable three-dimensionality for their fragility in life, and bear a lovely warm brown patina. The specimen comes from the abundant deposits of the chalky Nibrara Formation, created from the accumulation of microorganisms in the Western Interior Seaway 82-87 million years ago. A world-class and extremely impressive display piece, the complete specimen has been mounted and articulated on a pho-matrix plate measuring 7 x 4 ¼ Feet.
Provenance: Private Museum in Colorado

HUGE TRICERATOPS ARM
Triceratops horridus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Hell Creek Formation, Wibeaux Co, Montana
This massive front arm of the triceratops shows how big these monsters could get. It was found nicely articulated but not until it was excavated was it apparent how large the animal must have been - in comparison to the largest triceratops known, this arm indicates a creature one and a half times bigger! The only restoration performed was the replacement of two metacarpals (finger bones); the humerus, radius and ulna were in perfect alignment, while some of the finger bones were found nearby. The mount is also unique in that it can come apart and each bone can be removed from the armature. The bone quality is superb and displays the beautiful brown patina associated with Hell Creek material. The complete mounted specimen is huge, standing 54 ¼ inches high, and would make a wonderful and unique addition to any collection.

COMPLETE DINOSAUR ARM
Maiasaura peeblesorum
Cretaceous, Campanian Stage
Judith River Formation, Fergus Co, Montana
The Maiasaur was one of the bird-hipped, duck-billed Hadrosauridae, and named for its parenting habits. The name means "good mother lizard" as, in contrast to modern reptiles, the fossil record indicates that the Maiasaur nursed its young, incubating the eggs with rotting vegetation and bringing food to the nesting colonies which the hatchlings were unable to leave until their legs fully developed. This impressive arm is not a composite but is comprised of all original bones, with lovely texture and patina and sympathetic restoration, articulated on a metal armature and standing 45¾ inches high overall.

FINE TRICERATOPS HORN
Triceratops horridus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Hell Creek Formation, Wibeaux Co, Montana
The triceratops was known for its long majestic horns and huge frill, imagined in popular consciousness as engaged in a permanent battle with its arch-nemesis, the T-rex. This large, robust horn was found in one piece and includes the natural tip which is quite rare. What is more interesting is evidence of T-rex bite marks to the horn. This makes that famous scenario all the more exciting; rarely do we witness such evident bite marks on a horn and still have it remain intact. A true museum piece, it measures 28 ¾ inches long and 21 ¼ around at the base.

LARGE DINOSAUR TAIL
Hypacrosaurus stebingeri
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Two Medicine Formation, Bynum, Montana
This dinosaur tail was from the obscure duckbilled hadrosaur, Hypacrosaurus. It was found fully articulated but unfortunately missing the hemal arches or chevrons. All the caudals and processes are present, undistorted and the bone quality is superb. There are 60 caudal vertebrae present including the very tip of the tail and each was meticulously prepared to retain the excellent detail. Usually dinosaur tails are not found isolated like this but oddly no other dinosaurian was discovered anywhere nearby. An unusual find, it measures 85 ½ inches in length when assembled on its custom display mount.

GIANT DINOSAUR EGG
Titanosauroidea
Upper Cretaceous
Nequén Province, Patagonia, Argentina
This enormous egg was laid over 65 millions years ago by the giant Argentinean Titanosaur. The titanosauridae were a group of sauropod dinosaurs including Saltasaurus and Argentinosaurus, successors to the giant diplodocids and brachiosaurids, sauropods who had become extinct during the lower Cretaceous period. Like their predecessors, they were giant heavy herbivores, estimated to have weighed in excess of 100 tons. The family Titanosauridae was named for the under-described genus Titanosaurus, and there has yet to be universal agreement over the details of their taxonomic definition and sub-classification due to the relative scarcity of their remains in the fossil record. If we can be sure of little else however, with such an 8 3/8-inch wide egg, the mother of this unborn offspring was a dinosaur of a size quite worthy of its titanic name.

T-REX HAND CLAW
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Hell Creek Formation, Wibeaux Co, Montana
The T-Rex was certainly the most feared predator of all time. It was a veritable killing machine, with razor sharp teeth as long as bananas and a heavy jaw built for crushing through bone with ease. The claws of the T-Rex are usually hard to find, especially the hand claws due to the fact that there were only 2 on each hand. The present specimen is a fine example with well pronounced muscle/blood groove on both sides and minimal distortion. Throughout the lengthy fossilization process it was slightly crushed but has retained its deadly elegant curve and beautiful appearance, measuring 2 5/8 inches around the curve with almost no restoration.

SUPERB DINOSAUR CLAW & TOE
Albertosaurus libratus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Horseshoe Canyon formation, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Drumheller is arguably one of the richest deposits of dinosaurian fossils in the world. It is home to, amongst others, the Albertosaurus, cousin to the T-rex and also a fearsome predator. This toe specimen is superb, comprising four sections, each with great bone patina and minimal restoration, terminating in the wicked curving claw. It was collected legally and comes with a disposition number; unfortunately only this toe was recovered and the rest of the beast was never found. Mounted on a metal stand, it is a great display piece with very little restoration, measuring 14 inches along the curve and standing 9¾ inches high.

"OSTRICH" DINOSAUR HAND CLAW
Struthiomimus altus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Hell Creek Formation, Carter Co, Montana
The Struthiomimus was a long-legged ostrich-type dinosaur, also known as the "mimic" dinosaur, with long legs, a long slender neck and large eyes in a relatively small head. It was often thought that they were carnivores, but more recent studies suggest an omnivorous diet, and their fleet-footed frame and long counter-balancing tails would have been the best means of defense in fleeing the predatory dromaeosaurids that hunted the area of North America 65 million years ago. This claw is massive and in fine condition with a beautiful brown patina, characteristic of the Hell Creek formation. It measures 3¾ inches around the curve with no restoration and is presented in a 6¼ x 5¼-inch Riker mount.

A SUPERB T. REX TOOTH
Tyrannosaurus rex (Latin for "king tyrant lizard")
Late Cretaceous
Hell Creek Formation, Harding County, South Dakota

Tyrannosaurus rex was the largest, most powerful carnivorous dinosaur (aka theropod) of all time, and the largest land carnivore of any type in our Earth's history. It measured up to 43 feet in length and weighed up to 8 tons (16,000 lbs).
Its massive skull measured up to 5 feet long and was lined with huge spike-like teeth that were more robust than the teeth of any other theropod. Its skull was narrow in the front and extremely wide in the back, allowing for the eye sockets to point well forward and indicating the presence of excellent binocular vision, which would be necessary to solve time-distance problems required to effectively intercept its prey at running speed. Because the skull was so massive and heavy, T. rex needed a substantial counterbalance in the form of a long heavy tail. The neck was short and the neck muscles huge to support the gigantic skull and absorb the shock of impact during the very violent attacks that T. rex would initiate as it would slam into its prey, mouth first, at high speed. T. rex teeth were very robust so that they would more effectively transmit the energy of impact into the victim's body and gouge, rather than cut, huge chunks of flesh out of the prey as T. rex bore down with its powerful jaws. T. rex had the greatest biting force of any large theropod, so it appears that the great jaw strength was an evolutionary adaptation to its unique "gape-jawed" collision hunting style. The evidence clearly shows that Tyrannosaurus rex was truly the "King of Dinosaurs".

This tooth is from the dentary region or lower jaw. It exhibits pristine, natural lustrous surfaces and a gorgeous banded chocolate-brown color with orange and yellow checking and highlights. It also has an interesting wear spot or "facet' near the tip where the tooth was ground flat by the repeated occlusion with the corresponding upper tooth. The serrations on the cutting edges are in excellent condition. An exceptionally high quality specimen, with only a small percentage of restoration, measuring 3 3/8 inches long by a massive 1 3/8 inches across the base.

TYRANNOSAURID TOOTH
Daspletosaurus torosus
Cretaceous, Campanian Stage
Judith River Formation, Fergus Co, Montana
The name Daspletosaurus means frightful lizard, appropriate for a close relative of the infamous T-rex. Reaching a length off up to 30 feet, like its larger cousin, the Daspletosaur was a highly successful predator, its powerful jaws bristling with these vicious tearing and rending tools. This is a shed tooth; all theropods replaced their teeth quite frequently and the present example shows little wear. It is exactly as found, with no restoration, no glue or filler, nothing reconstructed, and in excellent condition though one side displays a fine crack; the enamel is in fine shape and bears a lovely warm brown patina and well-defined serrations, and the whole tooth measures 2¼ inches along the outside curve.

SAUROPOD TOOTH
Bothriospondylus madagascariensis
Jurassic, Oxfordian Stage
Kamoro, Madagascar
The Bothriospondylus was one of the giant herbivorous sauropods (Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus et al) that roamed all across the globe in the late Jurassic Epoch. Their long spatulate teeth were ideal for processing the tough plant material on which they subsisted, and this is a fine example. The flattened, spoon-like head retains good enamel coverage and has some evocative wear, testament to the grinding action the tooth performed, and it boasts a good long root section. Measuring 2½ inches overall, it is presented in a 4¼ x 3¼-inch Riker mount.

TRICERATOPS TOOTH
Triceratops horridus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage
Hell Creek Formation, Carter Co, Montana
The Triceratops is certainly one of the most iconic dinosaurs of all time, and this is a fine example of its distinctive tooth. Its curious ridged triangular-section appearance is due to the shearing action with which the Triceratops processed the fibrous plant material that comprised much of its diet. This uncommonly large example boasts a lovely patina and superb root section with no restoration, measuring 1¾ inches in length.

LARGE ANKYLOSAURID SCUTE

Family: Ankylosauridae, poss. Edmontonia rugosidens
Cretaceous
Hell Creek Formation, Carter County, Montana
This is a very large example of the fused-bone armor plating characteristic of the Ankylosaurids. Known for their stocky appearance and effective defensive features such as a large tail club and these hardy scutes interspersed with a liberal profusion of spikes that comprised their body armor, the ankylosaurs could make even the feared T-Rex think twice at trying to make a meal out of such a well protected potential breakfast. This evocative specimen measures 7¼ x 8 inches and is presented on a metal display stand.

A HUGE T. REX TOE BONE
Tyrannosaurus rex
Late Cretaceous
Hell Creek Formation, Harding County, South Dakota
The bones of T. rex are equally as massive as their teeth as exhibited by this monster toe bone. One of the huge foot claws would articulate with this bone in life. T.rex had very strong feet for running traction and also, possibly, for securing prey in an alternative killing scenario to those mentioned above. Measures 6 inches long by 4 ¼ inches wide by 4 ½ inches high. There is restoration to the top of the proximal end and small crescent-shaped areas on each of the lateral lobes of the distal articulation amounting to less than 10% restoration overall.

GIANT METATARSAL
Diplodocus longus
Jurassic, Kimmeridgian Stage
Morrison Formation, Bone Cabin Quarry, Medicine Bow, Wyoming
The Diplodocus was one of the longest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth, sometimes reaching over 100 feet in length. It had a distinctive long neck and full body, and conforms to what many of us imagine as the "typical" dinosaur shape - huge beasts that were as big as houses. This superb metatarsal is instantly evocative of their enormous size, one of the comparatively small bones that comprise the toe. The fine black coloration is typical of Jurassic fossils from this well-known area, as is the excellent bone texture and superbly three-dimensional preservation. The history of the Bone Cabin Quarry is also fascinating, an abundant source of Jurassic fossils first exploited at the end of the nineteenth century, and so-named for a trapper's cabin made entirely from dinosaur bones that had already been constructed there. This splendid example is not only a superb specimen in its own right but a fine talisman of the history of fossil collecting, and measures 8¼ inches high on a metal display stand.

HADROSAURID VERTEBRA
Maiasaura peeblesorum
Cretaceous, Campanian Stage
Two Medicine formation, Bynum, Montana
This is a caudal vertebra from the dinosaur known as the "good mother". The name was coined from the animal's egg nests, arranged in colonies and incubated by heat from rotting vegetation laid on top by the mother; fossils of hatchlings suggest they were unable to walk immediately, yet wear to their teeth indicates that the mother animals brought food to the still nest-bound young. This characteristic vertebra has fine bone quality and patina, with no restoration and an unusual curve to the long spiny process which may indicate an injury while the creature was alive. Presented on a metal display base, it stands 13 7/8 inches high.