Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1887 — The Orloff Diamond. [ARTICLE]

The Orloff Diamond.

This magnificent gem, which in its rough state formed the eye of an idol in a temple near Tricliinopoli, was stolen by a Frenchman, who escaped Wlt h his prize to P|rsia, jind ,whQ, f.earfui of being discovered, was glad to dispose of his ill-gotten gem for a sum of about £2,000. The man who bought the stone, a Jewish merchant, sold it to one Shafras, an astute Armenian, for £12,000. Shafras had conceived the idea that by carrying the stone to Russia he would obtain from the Empress Catherine the Great a princely sum for it. How to travel in safety'with the stone, the theft of which had of course been discovered and proclaimed, became a grave consideration. It was too large to swallow, and no mode of concealment presented itse’f to Shafras that seemed secure from discovery. The way in which he solved the problem was remarkable. He made a deep incision in the fleshy part of liis left leg, in which he inserted the stone, closing the wound carefully by sewing it up with silver thread. When the wound healed the Armenian merchant set out on his travels quite boldly, and although more than once apprehended, rigorously searched, and even toffuFlfr a little, he was obdurate and firmly denied having the stone in his possession. Having at length reached his destination, he asked from the Empress the sum of £40,000 for the gem, an amount of money which Catherine was unable to raise at the moment. We next find the Armenian at Amsterdam with tho intention of having his diamond cut. fe Here the stone was seen by Count Orloff, who determined to purchase it for presentation to his royal mistress, the Empress Catherine. The sum ultimately paid for the gem was about £70,000 sterling in cash, together with an annuity of £SOO and a patent of nobility. Shafras flourished exceedingly, and died a millionaire. Such, in brief, is the story of the Orloff diamond.— Chambers’ Journal.