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    Welcome to Vol. 2 of our continuing series of mineral photo books. Every specimen you see within this volume has been sold by Stuart & Donna Wilensky Fine Minerals. These ongoing catalogs represent our entire career as mineral dealers and collectors. For over 20 years we have worked to refine and continually evolve so that every mineral we sell is something special, unique, wonderful in some way. To achieve this goal we look at thousands of specimens every year and choose only a fraction. It is only those that meet our requirements that you see pictured here.
    Our specialty has always been minerals of great beauty, perfection, and importance. We look for minerals which exhibit strong colors and/or strong color contrast, fine aesthetics and balance with artistic display angles. These qualities appeal to our innate sense of beauty. This criteria transcends time and has been valued by people since we were able to create and appreciate art.
    How do we evaluate a mineral? Evaluation of mineral specimens is not a science. It is a cognitive process combining knowledge, experience, aesthetic taste, and passion. How these are combined, how they are weighted, varies depending upon the specimen itself. Some pieces maintain a certain value due to rarity, others beauty, some crystal color, or transparency, but mostly it is the combination of these factors and numerous others, both visual and visceral, that puts together a picture and finally a value. Plainly speaking, what is any mineral specimen worth? What is any work of art worth? The value of the canvas and the paint...nothing. They have no intrinsic value. The true value is how much do we desire it. Humans have always placed value on beauty. This is why art and minerals have always been and always will be treasured.
    What is our criteria for being a mineral dealer? Don't sell a specimen I wouldn't keep myself, and be able to defend it as such...because if I can't then I shouldn't be selling it. I don't want to ever have to "sell" minerals, they must sell themselves based on their qualities.
    After browsing through Vol. 1, and now Vol. 2, you will see a style, a “look”, that we value. I have always counseled fellow collectors as I would myself; look, look and look again at as many minerals as you can. To make good judgments your eye must be educated as to what is available and possible.

    How can anyone say this or that specimen is exceptional, or among the finest? Education. These statements are all relative to your level of knowledge. Read every book you can, visit every museum, go to shows, browse the web, keep looking. By printing my archive of photos I hope to add to this pool of knowledge for future generations of mineral connoisseurs.
    I am often asked which specimens are my favorites. I cannot honestly answer that question. Over these last 20+ years I must say these are all my favorites, that’s why they made the cut into our book series. I personally photograph every specimen we own. Much like people, some are more photogenic then others. This has nothing to do with their quality or importance. The camera is limited in what it can see. It is not a substitute for human eyes. I believe for this series it is better to put in an average photo of a great mineral, and let everyone see a special piece, then to discard it just because the specimen was not particularly photogenic.
    As you evolve as a dealer and collector you buy many levels of minerals. At this stage in our career we are focused on the finest examples available. To say that there is a singular greatest known example is presumptuous, down right arrogant. Do these treasured few exist, probably. What is the greatest work by Leonardo Da Vinci, the Mona Lisa? Perhaps, but not all will agree. I prefer to think of each piece as a microcosm of beauty and quality. Each piece has it’s own charm, it’s own characteristics, which give it stature among its peers.
    I am not a true believer in the one holy grail specimen. I do have my dream minerals, pieces I have always dreamt of owning. I find most of my dream minerals are those I cannot have; they are unobtainable. I must believe that adds to their allure. I made a mental list many years ago and have been fortunate to have acquired at least half of my personal dream list...the other half is still out there waiting. As collectors it is our nature to always want what we cannot have. That’s what makes the next acquisition exciting. Every time I open a box of minerals I get that feeling; the adrenaline high. I hope in some small way every time you turn a page in our books you will get this feeling. That is truly my ultimate goal...to share the beauty, the wonder, the excitement of mineral collecting.
Stuart & Donna Wilensky