| Reference number | MM/11/85 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Remarks on an amethyst 'looted from the treasure of the Temple of the God Indra at Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny', by Edward Heron-Allen |
| Date | October 1904 |
| Description | The letter relates Heron-Allen's history of the amethyst, how it was looted from the "treasure of the Temple of the God Indra at Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny of 1855", the ill-fortune that befalls anyone who comes into possession of it and how it came into his ownership.
Heron-Allen states that the amethyst was having such a detrimental effect on his life and a "baleful influence" on his young daughter, that he was depositing it at his bankers (enclosed in seven boxes) and not to be opened until thirty three years after his death.
This letter is a copy (marked 'Copy' in top left hand corner) deposited with the Royal Society. The original was placed with the jewel in the box deposited in the bank.
After Heron-Allen's death in 1944 the amethyst was passed on to the Natural History Museum with the rest of his library. During his lifetime the jewel was the inspiration for Heron-Allen's story "The Purple Sapphire" in his book of short stories 'The Strange Papers of Christopher Blayre' (1932). |
| Extent | 2 sides |
| Format | Typescript |
| Access status | Open |
| Related material | Colour tiff of both pages, Richardiii/Images general Tiffs/Heron Allen E, IM 005493 |
| Related records in the catalogue | IM/005493 |
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Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA7699 | Heron-Allen; Edward (1861 - 1943) | 1861 - 1943 |