Martin Zinn donates rare book to GIA library

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 6/24/2002 2:00:00 AM

Longtime gem and mineral enthusiast Martin Zinn III of Evergreen, Colo., has donated a one-of-a-kind, leather-bound book to the Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center. This book features the hand-painted work of mineralogist Wendell E. Wilson.

“I’ve been a supporter of Wendell’s artwork for a long time. I always wanted him to do more, so when he put the book together, I bought it,” Zinn said. “I hope many people are able to see it and use it [as part of GIA’s collection].”

Art of the Mineralogical Record contains 100 of Wilson’s original drawings, all of which have been featured on the cover of the Mineralogical Record journal. It joins the Institute’s collection in the Library’s Cartier Rare Book Repository.

“The 100 one-of-a-kind plates are both a history of important illustrations, as well as highlights of 33 years of the Mineralogical Record,” said Dona Dirlam, G.G., director of the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center. “The book itself is a work-of-art. It’s a beautifully crafted and constructed volume illustrating some of the finest bindery techniques.”

Published in 1997 by Green Dragon Bindery, the book is bound in intricately tooled leather with each original illustration individually mounted with Lectrostik adhesive.