The illustrations of rings in the British Museum are mostly from one or the other of the two exceedingly comprehensive catalogues of rings published by this museum: “Finger Rings, Greek, Etruscan and Roman,” by F. H. Marshall, and “Finger Rings, Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Mediæval, and Later,” by O. M. Dalton. In each volume the section devoted to a special description of each ring is preceded by a most scholarly and enlightening introductory essay. G. F. K. [Illustration][3] New York City, November, 1916 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE ORIGIN, PURPOSES AND METHODS OF RING WEARING 1 1. The Origin of the Ring 2. Purposes of Ring Wearing 3. Methods of Wearing II. FORMS OF RINGS AND MATERIALS OF WHICH THEY ARE MADE 67 The Materials of Rings III. SIGNET RINGS 115 IV. SOME INTERESTING RINGS OF HISTORY 162 1. On the Continent 2. English Rings V. BETROTHAL (ENGAGEMENT) RINGS, WEDDING (NUPTIAL) RINGS, AND LOVE TOKENS 193 VI. THE RELIGIOUS USE OF RINGS 249 VII. MAGIC AND TALISMANIC RINGS 288 VIII. RINGS OF HEALING 336 IX. RING MAKING 355 ILLUSTRATIONS COLOR PLATES PAGE The Maharani of Sikkim _Frontispiece_ Richly Enameled Rings in the Collection of Dr. Albert Figdor 90 Shakespeare’s Signet Ring; Lord Byron’s Ring 152 DOUBLETONES Evolution of the Ring 2 Serpent Ring; Greek and Roman Rings; Mycenæan Rings 3 Ancient Rings of American Indians 20 Navajo Silversmith at Work 21 Navajo Indian Girl Wearing Native Rings 24 Navajo Silver Rings 25 Navajo Silversmiths Working 28 Pueblo Indian Family, Showing Ring-wearing 29 Autograph Letter of Admiral Robert E. Peary 30 Roman Rings; Charioteer’s Ring 32 Isis and Serapis Ring; Decade Ring; Supposed Head of Plotina on Ring; Key Rings 33 Memorial Rings and Poison Ring 44