USNM Curators Annual Report - Department of Geology, Division of Mineralogy and Petrology, 1958-59

In 1958-59, the Smithsonian accessioned more than 4,500 specimens into its mineralogy collection, among them the "largest and most notable of all blue diamonds in the world": the Hope Diamond. How did such a legendary gem come to the Smithsonian? In a plain brown paper package, via the U.S. Postal Service! While the package itself is now part of the National Postal Museum, the diamond resides at the National Museum of Natural History. Dig deeper into the story of the Hope Diamond with the Division of Mineralogy and Petrology Annual Report, detailing the year's most iconic collection addition. Join other digital volunteers in transcribing this important piece of Smithsonian history!