Pink Beryl and Emerald Crystals
Emerald is actually a member of the beryl family of gemstones (including aquamarine, heliodor, red beryl, and others), but with a higher number of impurities (known as inclusions), and colored various shades of green by trace amounts of chromium.
While dozens of questionable cures and wards for the plague are known, the royalty of both Europe and Byzantium believed that crushed emerald was the surest ward, and would save them from any plague-related death. This belief went so far as to lead the apothecaries and physicians of sixteenth-century England to release a declaration stating that the inefficacy of gems in both curing and warding the plague was due to improper identification and preparation of gems prescribed, not because the “cure” was simply a ploy on the nobility’s belief that the more expensive something was, the better it was.
A Book of Precious Stones. Julius Wodiska, 1909.
![Early 1920s Maillot Pantaloon Postcard
In 1907, swimming champion and women’s liberationist Annette Kellerman was arrested for wearing this style bathing suit on the beach in Boston. By the 1930s, however, the maillot pantaloon silhouette was high fashion among the public and celebrities alike.
[Bikini Science]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BathingSuit1920s.jpg)
Early 1920s Maillot Pantaloon Postcard
In 1907, swimming champion and women’s liberationist Annette Kellerman was arrested for wearing this style bathing suit on the beach in Boston. By the 1930s, however, the maillot pantaloon silhouette was high fashion among the public and celebrities alike.
Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh (1899–1929) was the ruling Maharaja of princely state Bharatpur (1918–1929) and successor of Maharani Girraj Kaur.
Maharaja Kishan Singh was born at Moti Mahal, Bharatpur on 4 October 1899 in a Hindu Jat family. He was eldest son of Maharaja Ram Singh by his second wife, Maharani Girraj Kaur. He was educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and Wellington. He succeeded on the deposition of his father on 27 August 1900. Installed on the gadi at Bharatpur on 30 August 1900. He reigned under the regency of his mother until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on 28 November 1918. -
(Source: alessandrahautumn, via asianhistory)
“She made them gallop around an imaginary ring”
Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural History. Myrtle Reed, illustrations by Peter Newell, 1904.
Radium as a Test for Real Diamonds
“At the approach of Radium pure gems are thrown into great brilliancy, while imitations remain dull.”
I can imagine a jeweler would be thrilled to have you bring in a chunk of radium whilst shopping for an engagement ring.
The Boy’s Second Book of Inventions. Roy Stannard Baker, 1909.
Magazine Cover: Motion Picture Classic (December, 1920)
Sarah Bernhardt Making a Phonograph Recording
Sarah Bernhardt was not a singer, but a dramatic actress, and was considered the best of her age by many critics. She recorded and performed up to just a couple weeks before her death in 1923, at age 78.
The Boy’s Book of Inventions. Roy Stannard Baker, 1908.
![“Oh! Why do all women love me?”
Who wouldn’t love a man who is so fabulous?
1906 poster advertising the comedy, “The Little Duchess”.
[Source: Library of Congress Performing Arts Poster collection.]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1747jm0H11qmrpnro1_250.jpg)
“Oh! Why do all women love me?”
Who wouldn’t love a man who is so fabulous?
1906 poster advertising the comedy, “The Little Duchess”.
[Source: Library of Congress Performing Arts Poster collection.]
Portrait of an Irish Lass - Gelatin Silver Print taken around 1910
via okinawasoba
Holy hell. That is the most Irish-looking Irishwoman I’ve seen recently. Wow.
