MOST PERFECT TOPAZ.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 151, 1 August 1914, Page 5

MOST PERFECT TOPAZ.

The largest and most nearly perfect topaz in the world, weighing 1591 grains, has recently been sold at 'auc-f tion by a bank at Taranto, where it had been pawned for many years. Although this wonderful stone is worth considerably jnore than 20,000 dollars, Signor Ciura, of Taranto, bought it for only 4470 dollars.

The topaz is supposed to bring bad luck and very few persons offered to buy it. -Naturally the stone has a history.. It was brought to Italy from Brazil about fifty years ago and belonged to King Ferdinand 11. of Naples, who in 1870 gave it to the famous engraver Cariello to cut on it with a diamond the figure of Christ in the act of breaking bread, symbolising the Eucharist.

The King intended to give the topaz to the Pope, but Cariello took fifteen years to conclude his work, and as the topaz was never claimed from him it passed to- his heirs when he diejd. It was offered to King Victor Emanuel 11. for sale, but he rufused to buy it. . Evidently it brought bad luck to the persons who owned it, as they all died poor. About twenty years ago the topaz was pawned.