In these pages a sincere attempt is made to blend modern science with the ancient and occult philosophy of the precious, semi-precious and common stones of the earth. It will be shown that many of the seemingly absurd narratives of old authors are but cunningly concealed truths, the unravelling of which can be followed with interest and profit along the lines herein indicated. The ancient masters held that the influences exerted by the heavenly bodies entered into harmonious relations with various terrestrial substances. Hence we have the venerable philosophy of fortunate stones, planetary gems and “stones of power,” which form a part of the vast department known as talismanic magic. It is the philosophy of sympathy and antipathy prevailing through nature—atom for atom, stone for stone, plant for plant, animal for animal, man for man. This observation was subjected to an orderly scientific arrangement which for completeness of detail would compare, in some cases, more than favorably with the most careful synthesis of modern science. In order to make easily understood the matter treated and to secure pronunciations as nearly correct as possible, it has been considered advisable to render all foreign words, ancient and modern, in familiar letters.

I have to express my grateful thanks to the friends who have, in various ways, been helpful to me in regard to this work.

To Mr. Kelsey I. Newman, for the use of his unique collection of opals and precious stones, including the wonderful opal, “The Flame Queen,” and especially for his co-operation, without which this book could not have been published.

Likewise to The Right Honorable the Viscountess Astor, M.P.; Lieutenant Sir Edward Mackenzie-Mackenzie, Bart.,Bart., for his original Heraldic drawings of the horoscopes of royal and notable persons from my charts; Professor Sir William Ridgeway, Sc.D., LL.D., Litt.D., F.B.A., of Cambridge University, England; Miss Kathleen Watkins, for her help in preparing the sheets for the press; Mrs. Beatrix Colquhoun, for her paintings of the Flame Queen and other gems from Mr. Kelsey I. Newman’s collection; Mr. and Mrs. C. G. King, Melbourne, Australia; Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Seymour, New York City; Mr. William Howat, Melbourne, Australia; Mrs. S. Kozminsky, Melbourne, Australia; Mrs. Alice Walker, Melbourne, Australia; Mr. G. S. Brown, Melbourne, Australia; Mr. G. A. Osboldstone, Melbourne, Australia; Mr. James Mackenzie, Adelaide, Australia; Mr. M. Susman, Hobart, Tasmania, and to my wife to whom this book is dedicated.

Melbourne, Australia,

January, 1922.