Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The Bishop Collection: Investigations and Studies in Jade (1906) stands as one of the most ambitious scholarly works ever produced on jade. American businessman and philanthropist Heber Reginald Bishop (1840–1902) assembled an extraordinary jade collection during the late 19th century and ultimately donated it to @metmuseum. He commissioned this monumental two-volume publication to study and document the collection in depth, examining jade’s mineralogy, Chinese cultural history, carving traditions and archaeological context.
The publication itself is exceptionally rare. In 1906, the De Vinne Press privately printed only 100 numbered sets, distributing them to major museums, libraries and dignitaries around the world. Each volume is enormous: about 25 × 19 inches with a combined weight of more than 100 pounds, and features elaborate watercolor, copper plate, lithograph and woodcut illustrations.
In 2021, GIA acquired a rare set (No. 85) at auction and added it to the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center, where it supports ongoing gemological research and education. Today, both volumes are also available to view online through the Internet Archive, making this once-exclusive publication accessible to researchers and gem enthusiasts worldwide.
View it now online: archive.org/details/BishopCollectionVol1/mode/2up
The Bishop Collection: Investigations and Studies in Jade (1906) stands as one of the most ambitious scholarly works ever produced on jade. American businessman and philanthropist Heber Reginald Bishop (1840–1902) assembled an extraordinary jade collection during the late 19th century and ultimately donated it to @metmuseum. He commissioned this monumental two-volume publication to study and document the collection in depth, examining jade’s mineralogy, Chinese cultural history, carving traditions and archaeological context.
The publication itself is exceptionally rare. In 1906, the De Vinne Press privately printed only 100 numbered sets, distributing them to major museums, libraries and dignitaries around the world. Each volume is enormous: about 25 × 19 inches with a combined weight of more than 100 pounds, and features elaborate watercolor, copper plate, lithograph and woodcut illustrations.
In 2021, GIA acquired a rare set (No. 85) at auction and added it to the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center, where it supports ongoing gemological research and education. Today, both volumes are also available to view online through the Internet Archive, making this once-exclusive publication accessible to researchers and gem enthusiasts worldwide.
View it now online: archive.org/details/BishopCollectionVol1/mode/2up
