The Tourmaline: It’s relation as a Gem; It’s Complex Nature; Its Wonderful Physical Properties, ETC., ETC.,: With Special Reference to the Beautiful and Matchless Crystals Found in the State of Maine.

Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1873. 8vo, original blue cloth stamped in gold. Frontis. 107 pp., 4 chromolithographic plates (including frontis.) Mid-twentieth century bookplates on front pastedown and front free endpaper.

The scarce, classic work on the state gemstone of Maine, an exhaustive study not only of the mineral’s physical properties, but also the history of its discovery, understanding, and the origins of its name. Hamlin was a Bangor-based physician who took a keen interest in geology, the tourmaline in particular. In addition to the present volume, Hamlin also penned The History of Mount Mica of Maine, U.S.A. and Its Wonderful Deposits of Matchless Tourmalines (1895), which is concerned with the discovery of the first significant deposit of tourmaline in the Pine Tree State. With lovely chromolithographs by Louis Prang & Co. of Boston based on illustrations by the author.

REFERENCES: Williamson 4154; Thompson, Edward V. Important Maine Maps, Books, Prints and Ephemera (Orono, 2003) 190 (for a copy in green cloth); Babb 246; Twinem & Perkins, p. 36.

CONDITION: Very good, lightly rubbed at extremities, head and foot of spine a bit rubbed, light dampstain to lower right corner of eight leaves.