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Henri Lemoine Diamond Fraud Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Henri Lemoine was a French fraudster who claimed to be able to produce synthetic diamonds. In 1904 Lemoine contacted Sir Julius Wernher, a German-born British owner of South African diamond mining companies, to demonstrate his claim. Over the next three years, Wernher invested thousands of pounds in Lemoine's "secret" process. Lemoine was convicted of fraud in 1908 but left the country before sentencing.

The collection consists of contractual papers relating to Lemoine's claim to be able to make synthetic diamonds: correspondence, contracts, letters of intent, and other documents. Besides Lemoine, the other parties represented in the various agreements are Julius Wernher of Wernher, Beit & Co., William Feldenheimer of Feldenheimer & Co., and Jocelyn Brandon of Brandon & Nicholson.

Arranged by type of material and chronologically within.

Purchased from M. Benjamin Katz Rare Books in 2011 (AM2011-92).

This collection was processed by John Delaney in 2011. Finding aid written by John Delaney in 2011.

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012.

No materials were separated during 2011 processing.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2011
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Memorandum of Agreement No. 1, 1905 May 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Memorandum of Agreement No. 2, 1905 May 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Memorandum of Agreement, 1905 July 28. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Memorandum of Agreement, 1906 June 30. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1904. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1905. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1906. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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