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Antique
Mineral Labels and
their accompanying Mineral Specimens from
the Collection of Paul de Bondt
Introduction
Old mineral specimen labels represent a real historical value.
Only recently dealers, collectors and curators realized this,
following a long period of indifference when labels were neglected,
discarded or destroyed.
It is now recognized that the presence of a label -or possibly
of a set of labels- accompanying an early mineral specimen always
enhances the interest and value of both. Labels constitute a
first hand documentation that provides evidence of the origin
and the history of the specimens; their "pedigree". Labels also
give information concerning the successive owners (names of
collectors, dealers or museums), sometimes including their address
and qualification, and often indicative of their interest and
specialties. In many cases, the existence of a collection, its
importance and the system used to classify the minerals, were
deduced from old labels. Occasionally the general appearance
(esthetic value, design, handwriting...) of a label contains
a subtle indication of the collector's personality.
Old labels represent an important historical source of information
and should never be separated from their accompanying mineral
specimens. Part of the Romé de l'Isle collection has become
untraceable due to the insertion of the original labels in other
collections of the M.N.H.N. (Paris).
Go to my antique mineral labels from:
Label Archive
The Mineralogical
Record Label Archive is a collection of original printed
mineral specimen labels. With over 15000 examples cataloged
it probably constitutes the largest gathering of its kind. It
is certainly the most documented source of information in this
field, including biographies of mineral collectors and mineral
dealers, and history of institutions.
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