CLASSIC THUMBNAILS and MINIATURES: from the MARTIN LEWADNY COLLECTION

CLASSIC THUMBNAILS and MINIATURES:
from the MARTIN LEWADNY COLLECTION

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LTH-19A - Silver - £ 198
Silver Islet Mine, Silver Islet, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
thumbnail, 2.8 x 1.4 x 1 cm

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Silver from Silver Islet Mine, Silver Islet, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/new2010/lth119A.jpg]

One of three aesthetic silver "rope" specimens obtained from an oldtime miner, from this classic locality that is now closed and gone forever. It was one of those funny stories in mining that you hear about and cannot believe - they actually mined this silver from an islet in the Great Lakes, while pumping water out, that is now long since closed and flooded. Verifiable Silver Islet specimens are few and far between. These three wires all have lovely form and an excellent, attractive patina.

LTH-71 - Cerussite - £ 627
Mammoth Mine, St. Anthony deposit, Tiger, Mammoth District, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
thumbnail, 2.1 x 2 x .7 cm

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A very choice single V-twin of lustrous Cerussite from Tiger, Arizona. This old piece has excellent aesthetics, and the rich pearly luster captures the eye. Most people see a good Mammoth Cerussite so rarely that they are simply unaware that there even is a US locality that produced such fine Cerussites - and FEW such twins, as this. ex Ernie Schlichter collection.

LTH-72 - Cobaltite - £ 198
Espanola, Foster Township, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada
thumbnail, 3 x 2.5 x 2 cm

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Excellent and rare specimen of Cobaltite crystals, in matrix, from the Sudbury Distric in Ontario. Old classics, these cubic cobaltites are quite different from their more famous and wellknown brethren from Sweden. These silver-gold crystals are sharp, lustrous, and have a fascinating complex habit along the crystal faces. The largest of these Cobaltite cubes ranges up to about .7 cm, and there are over a half-dozen, total, in matrix, of various sizes. Aesthetic, and uncommon for the quality.

LTH-70 - Wulfenite - £ 198
Ahumada Mine, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico
miniature, 3.6 x 2 x 1.7 cm

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A captivating specimen of two incredible, deep reddish-orange Wulfenite crystals, perched on a contrasting drusy matrix of endlichite upon calcite, from the famous Los Lamentos. Each of these crystals has superb luster, an almost watery undulation to the surface, classic 'sandwich' habit (lighter terminations), and great, eye-catching color. They are SUPERB quality. They are also unusually elongated along the C-axis. The largest is an amazing 1.8 cm long (thick). First-class aesthetics . A true toenail, either a small miniature if vertical or a full thumbnail when set at an angle.

LTH-64 - Anglesite - £ 1221
Touissit Mine, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco
miniature, 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.3 cm

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A striking 3.3 cm GEMMY Anglesite with superb luster and great 'brightness'. It is really like glass. Top-notch Anglesites from the famous locality of Touissit are hard to find, and this is one of the better miniatures I have seen in awhile. These were probably mined in the late 1960s or through the 1970s. Certainly, not recent. this is complete all around. The termination id "decorated" with little outgrowths and some slightly greenish mineralization, not unattractive.

LTH-60 - Magnetite on Microcline - £ 148
Cerro Huanaquino, Potos� Department, Bolivia
toenail, 3.3 x 2.5 x 2 cm

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Superb, well-defined set of gunmetal-silver Magnetite crystals on matrix. Typically the Magnetite specimens from this locality are closely grown together, but this one has exceptional definition and eye-appeal. The lustre is better than most, as well. The overall quality is excellent, with large, razor sharp, lustrous, silver-black, "Alpine-type" octahedra on matrix with associated small, blocky white Feldspar crystals. The large Magnetite crystal measures an incredible 1.8 cm on edge. Frankly, this is among the best Bolivian Magnetite crystals I have seen, qualitywise, in any size; and these rate highly among all Magnetites, period, at a fraction of the price a crystal might cost from more historic locales. With simple, clean aesthetics, it is a fabulous thumbnail. ex Brian Kosnar collection

LTH-59 - Adamite - £ 297
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
toenail, 2.6 x 2.5 x 2.2 cm

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Aesthetic, and very unusual, pair of pinwheels that intersect each other, very much like a pair of colliding galaxies. The largest radial cluster is a full 2 cm across, lustrous, and has a lovely lemon-yellow color. There is even a cluster of individual, extremely gemmy crystals (more Adamite!) attached to the side. The smaller, partial pinwheel rises up from the main cluster, and it's angle and form make it look like a streamer. The pair complement each other and display beautifully. Bright yellow fluorescence is a bonus. This is classic older material from the 1970s heyday here, and is from the Sam Nasser thumbnail collection. It is an outstanding, unusual piece, much better in person. Very aesthetic - a great toenail sized specimen (either a large thumbnail or a small miniature depending on how you angle it for display) ex Sam Nasser collection

LTH-58 - Pyrargyrite (floater) - £ 627
Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico
toenail, 3 x 2.2 x 2 cm

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Choice cluster of glassy-lustrous, deep silvery-red Pyrargyrite crystals from the famous locality of Fresnillo. The largest blocky crystal ranges to 2 cm in length, and the overall appearance of these Pyrargyrites is eye-catching with lots of faces flashing reflections in all directions. Add some good lighting, and it glows cherry-red.

LTH-57 - Veszelyite - £ 297
Black Pine Mine, Phillipsburg, Granite County, Montana, USA
thumbnail, 1.8 x 1.4 x 1.1 cm

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Veszelyite from Black Pine Mine, Phillipsburg, Granite County, Montana, USA [db_pics/new2010/LTH57B.JPG]

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Veszelyite from Black Pine Mine, Phillipsburg, Granite County, Montana, USA [db_pics/new2010/LTH57C.JPG]

These Veszelyites, from a famous one-time find of small pockets found over 30 years ago, are best of species for both quality and aesthetics. Each crystal here is about 6 mm in size, unusually thick; and they have superb luster, deep midnight blue to turquoise color, and sharp form. Pieces of this quality dispersed immediately and now can be had only in the recycling of noted collections, since they were snapped up generally by such folks to begin with. Very aesthetic, and uncommon for the quality.

LTH-56 - Betafite with Zircon - £ 132
Silver Crater Mine, Cardiff, Ontario, Canada
thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.3 x 1.8 cm

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An exceptional cluster of euhedral, sharp Betafite crystals, the largest of which is an amazing 1.8 cm across. These heavily modified cuboctahedrons are brown, with a vitreous waxy luster. Included in their surface are several reddish Zircon crystals - unusual! It is unusual to find these Betafites in such good-quality crystals and with a nice patina to them. Slightly radioactive, and rare in this quality.

LTH-55 - Azurite - £ 495
1994 Easter Pocket, 8th Level, Tsumeb, Namibia
toenail, 3.3 x 2 x 1.7 cm

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This super-lustrous, beveled, almost tabular crystal has great color and an unusual, modified form that gives it the appearance of a wing from one angle. In fact, this form is characteristic of the famous EASTER POCKET, one of the last major finds at Tsumeb. Sitting up wonderfully on matrix, this is a very fine toenail-sized specimen (large thumbnail if angled to fit in a TN box, or small miniature, if stood upright). This is an exceptional specimen from the famed Easter Pocket find of 1994; and a very rare example in that it is an isolated crystal on real matrix instead of on gossan or massive azurite. It is complete on both sides, and has even better lustre in person! Striking, and unusual, this pocket of gemmy, translucent , bladed Azurite from the great Tsumeb Mine is regarded as having produced some of the best of species by many collectors.

LTH-51 - Azurite on Dolomite - £ 495
Touissit, Touissit District, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco
miniature, 3.7 x 2.9 x 2.2 cm

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Azurite on Dolomite from Touissit, Touissit District, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco [db_pics/new2010/LTH51B.JPG]

Azurite on Dolomite from Touissit, Touissit District, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco [db_pics/new2010/LTH51B.JPG]

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Azurite on Dolomite from Touissit, Touissit District, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco [db_pics/new2010/LTH51C.JPG]

Azurite on Dolomite from Touissit, Touissit District, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco [db_pics/new2010/LTH51C.JPG]

Elegant and exceptional, this 2 cm Azurite could not be designed and mounted any better. The luster is absolutely superb, and the faces, as well as the termination, are complex and appealing. Flashes of blue fire add even more visual interest. Sitting on top of sharp Dolomite crystals, the aesthetics on the classic Azurite are out of this world. This was one of the most appealing pieces from the Sam Nasser collection, before it went to Marty. In person, it is SO sharp...!

LTH-50 - Wulfenite - £ 1485
Red Cloud Mine, Trigo Mts., La Paz County, Arizona, USA
thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.7 x 2.3 cm

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Terrific pair of beautiful orange-red Wulfenites from undoubtedly the world's most famous Wulfenite mine, The Red Cloud. These translucent/gemmy crystals have superb luster and the classic beveled edges, and they are aesthetically placed so they do not interfere with each other. They are FAT at 3-4 mm thickness at center, The largest is 1.2 cm on edge. Most modern Red Clouds tend to be more orange, but these clearly have a deep red hue to them, a la the classic old Ed Over pieces...from the 1930s. I give it very serious betting that this is, in fact, an old Ed Over specimen. It has the right color, fatness, and matrix. But I cannot prove it or the price would double. In any case, it is a superb Red Cloud speicmen that is quite differrent than any modern finds, and simply glows with color and lustre. In person, it is extremely impressive and "mighty" in impact. It is NOT average and is MUCH BETTER in person

LTH-49 - Silver - £ 1155
King's Mine, Kongsberg, Norway
thumbnail, 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm

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Choice, very aesthetic, combination of thick Silver wires from the world's greatest silver mine, Kongsberg. The largest of the wires is about 2 cm long and 3 mm thick, and the patina is attractive, with very bright luster in some places.. Impressive. Reminds some of a skull and horns, or maybe a crab in shape. A very good, aesthetic Silver, no matter how you look at it! And, a rather interesting one for a thumbnail collector, that is the right size but not diminutive in impact in any way. It IS the size it is, which HAPPENS to be a fullsized thumbnail, if that's a better way to phrase it?

LTH-48 - Pyromorphite (Arsenian) - £ 165
Bunker Hill Mine, near Kellogg, Shoshone County, Idaho, USA
thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.3 x 1.3 cm

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Superb, rich cluster of .5 cm botryoids of the "wettest looking," most lustrous Arsenian Pyromorphite that you can imagine. The color in a lovely orange-fire-caramel hue, and the 3-dimensional specimen is entirely Pyromorphite. Quite aesthetic! This is from the mid-1990s finds here.

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