gems, general gemology

Sinkankas from M. O’Donoghue: The bulk of this book consists of an alphabetical listing of stones, preceded by introductory chapters on gem testing. Much, if not all, of this section appears unchanged from the fourth edition, though some additions have been made to the alphabetical section. A large portion of each entry is devoted to discredited names, effectively giving them an undeserved extension of life—a practice that is hardly scholarly. Unfortunately, much of the material is inaccurate or carelessly presented. This is a pity, as the book is well-produced, and the colored illustrations—though largely taken from H.-J. Schubnel’s Pierres Précieuses dans le Monde—are still effective despite their reuse. The entire text would benefit greatly from revision by someone familiar with modern gemmology.