gems, jade, Fischer-Book, bibliography, history of mineralogy

A two-volume bibliographical repertory compiled by Christoph Wilhelm Jakob Gatterer covering the literature of mineralogy, mining and salt works. Rather than serving as a mineralogical textbook, the work systematically records books, articles and other publications relating to minerals, ores, mining, metallurgy and associated subjects. Of particular value to gemological research are its references to earlier literature on precious stones and mineral substances, including works that can otherwise be difficult to identify in modern catalogues. The repertory is an important source for reconstructing the mineralogical literature available at the end of the eighteenth century and for tracing the bibliographical history of early works on gemstones and minerals.