A rare and lavish catalogue detailing the collection of one of the most eminent businessmen, philanthropists and collectors of the 19th century, J P Morgan. Morgan dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation in 19th century America and was at the forefront of finance during the early 20th century Progressive Era. Morgan was also a noted collector, beginning with books and moving on to art, clocks, photography and gems.

The catalogues produced to document his collections are highly sought-after and desirable items in their own right, deluxe quality, printed on Japan Vellum and with each piece meticulously hand painted in colour and gold. The catalogues were made for presentation to his friends , heads of states , museums. The catalogue of the collection of jewels and precious works of art presents details of one of the most important American gem collections ever assembled. Morgan’s first collection of gems was compiled by Tiffany & Co. and exhibited at the world’s fair in 1889.

Dr Williamson wrote in his article 'An Experiment in Book Production' (Book Collectors' Quarterly No.3), ''In this way for some seven years, the work of preparing this astonishing volume went forward, indeed needed a Maecenas to venture upon this production of so costly and so remarkable a work. In the Jewel Book every extensive use was made of gold and silver leaf, the gold leaf alone running into many hundreds of pounds'' Lord Duveen commented of this volume's production that on receiving the catalogue of his jewels on Christmas Day 1912, a few months before his death, J.P. Morgan cabled to Williamson that this ''was the most beautiful book I have ever seen.''