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The Wendell Wilson Thumbnail Collections
Wendell had long been a collector, before becoming editor-in-chief of
our hobby's superb journal, the Mineralogical Record. Today he
specializes in thumbnails, particularly of gem crystals, and in
specimens with a superior aesthetic presentation (both miniatures and
thumbnails). I am honored to be able to help him cull his collection
down through an exchange, and to be able to offer these for
sale. Unless otherwise indicated, you can assume that all specimens
are as pristine as you could reasonably expect. Even the common
species are generally excellent examples that tend to be unusually
fine mineral specimens for overall balance, not "just" a small rock
that happens to fit in a thumbnail box. Sometiems a $100 thumbnail is
as superb as can be expected for the species, and you will see such
here as well as more expensive pieces. They represent the superb
selections of a very well-exposed collector who has had access to many
new finds and early showings over the years!
WW1 - Brazilianite - $125 Marcel Tellrio Mine, Minas Gerais, Southest Region, Brazil thumbnail, 2.2 x 1.5 x 1.6 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
Gemmy yellow Brazilianite perched perfectly on a matrix of massive to crystalline feldspar. The luster is superb, the edges razor-sharp, and the clarity is much higher than usually seen in a Brazilianite. The termination is excellent, as well. A fine specimen, and well above the norm, and a perfect aesthetic balance for a thumbnail sized piece!
WW2 - Lazulite - $2000 SOLD Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada thumbnail, 1.9 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
Lazurite has been long-known for it’s deep azure-blue color, but never have I seen one this lustrous and sharp and isolated, overall. I think that it is also a penetration twin! The mirror-like faces show flashes of blue as you move it around in the light, giving the crystal both depth and richness. There is minor attached matrix on the back, and very minor contact points on some of the side edges. They are trivial compared to the overall rarity and importance of this crystal – it is a knockout! Wendell believes this to be the best thumbnail of the species for this location and told me his opinion several times while deciding whether to include this in the deal or not. It certainly is the best thumbnail example of the species I have seen from this classic Canadian locality.
WW3 - Strontianite - $175 SOLD Oberdorf, Stelermark, Austria thumbnail, 2.4 x 2.3 x 1.8 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
It is very rare to find Strontianite in pseudo-hexagonal crystals, and these examples from this classic old locale are exceptional for this reason alone even if they weren't also so pretty to look at. They are sharp, doubly-terminated, lustrous, and the crème color grades to a lovely gemmy amber at each termination. The largest crystal is 1.4 cm. VERY aesthetic specimen!
WW4 - Marcasite - $50 SOLD Flambrough Quarry, Dundas, Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada thumbnail, 2.5 x 2.4 x 1.4 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
Classic brassy-gold tabular crystals with excellent metallic luster sitting attractively on a drusy quartz matrix. What adds to the aesthetics of the specimen are the multiple ‘picket-fence’ terminations of the Marcasite crystals. As elegant a specimen as you will find from this locality or as a thumbnail marcasite, period.
WW5 - Grossular Garnet - $450 Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada thumbnail, 2.2 x 2 x 1.2 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
The Jeffrey Mine has produced perhaps the finest garnets in the world, and this sweet thumb is no exception. The crystals, which have unusually good separation and definition, are lustrous with a deep amber color. The largest crystal is 1 cm across! There is some contacting in the back only, and it has no effect at all on the presentation side. Even better in person. A true GEMMY gem.
WW6 - Copper (twinned) - $450 SOLD Caledonia Mine, Mass City, Ontonagon County, Michigan thumbnail, 2 x 1.3 x 1 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
Excellent well-developed single crystal of Copper. The crystal has a fine luster and deep brownish-copper color. It is very unusual to find any copper crystal with this fine and sharp of a crystal habit, let alone in isolation. A truly fine specimen for any copper crystal, that happens to be a thumbnail size...rather than jus ta small copper
WW7 - Rutile - $450 SOLD Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil thumbnail, 2.5 x 2 x .3 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
There are many cool Rutiles around, but gram for gram this is one of the finest I have ever seen. The intergrown mostly-terminated! crystals have a superb striated luster and deep red color that takes very little coaxing to glow. The geometry of the bladed crystals creates an architecture that has superb aesthetics. Even better in person, this is an absolute killer. It flashes electric red from so many angles! This is unusually robust for such a reticulated cluster, not jus tskinny needles strung together but real 3-D crystals.
WW8 - Shattuckite ps. Cuprite - $1750 SOLD M’sesa Deposit, Kambove, Katanga, Congo thumbnail, 1.7 x 1.4 x 1.3 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
Shattuckite is normally found as crusts or small acicular radiating sprays. I hear that once, in the early 1980s, they found a pocket of these wild pseudomorphs after cuprite. I have seen 3 of them in my lifetime, only. This is the largest and sharpest by far of those. To find such a large shattuckite in the form of a pseudomorph, or in any form for that matter, is truly extraordinary. The waxy-lustre and the strong blue color is very attractive, and the well-terminated faces show nicely in front (though there are a few rougher faces in back). Really quite a remarkable specimen on many levels and certainly a major thumbnail of unique value.
WW9 - Pezzottaite - $2000 Sakavalana Mine, Ambotavita, Mandrosonoro area, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (type locality) thumbnail, 2 x 1.4 x .6 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
Lovely gem-quality bladed crystal with excellent reddish-pink color. For form, color, and gem-quality, you would be hard-pressed to find a Pezzottaite with these aesthetics. Wendell bought this soon after they came out, and such sharp and gemmy crystals are hard to come by now.
WW10 - Andorite with Berthierite - $750 San Jose Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia thumbnail, 3 x 2.4 x 1.1 cm ex. Wendell E. Wilson
A sharp specimen featuring a series of stacked Andorite crystals (excellent silvery luster and sharp tabular form) with sprays of superb Berthierite needles growing within several pockets on the specimen. A rare and unusual combination piece!
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