title: Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem
author:  Richard Kurin 
description: In this authoritative history of the Hope Diamond (also known as the French Blue), Kurin describes how the 112carat deep blue diamond came into the hands of Louis XIV through diamond trader Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who in turn had bought it from an Indian mine. (Although rumors persist that Tavernier took the gem from the eye of a Hindu idol, Kurin says there's no evidence to support this actionTavernier was a respected dealer.) The diamond was recut (reducing its size by half) and kept by the French monarchy until it was stolen during the revolution. It resurfaced, unrecognizable after being cut again, in the possession of London merchant Daniel Eliason in 1812. Some years later, it came into the hands of Henry Phillip Hope, was inherited by his wife and sold to several other owners, before being donated in 1958 to the Smithsonian Institution. There its mystique is grounded by "scientific discourse" and study. During his chronicle, the author, director of the Smithsonian's national programs, describes the history of the diamond trade, how precious stones were classified, the long-circulating myth that a curse was attached to the Hope diamond and royal politics of the times, for a serious but fascinating look at cultural and gemological history. B&amp;w photos. <i>(May)</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  # Sky Jewel Legacy
  
  
  ### Heritage
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Gregory Heal
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2019 by Gregory Heal
  
  
  All rights reserved.
  
  
  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
  mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
  written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
  a book review.
  
  
  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organizations and
  incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used
  fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations or
  persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
  
  
  [![Created with Vellum](../images/svgimg0003.svg) Created with
  Vellum](http://tryvellum.com/created)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Acknowledgements](part0003.html#2RHM0-6c48093241df4bd8a8f2d5131159ffc2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Sky Jewel Legacy](part0004.html#3Q280-6c48093241df4bd8a8f2d5131159ffc2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  