Knyahinya Meteorite

Formerly in the collection of Walter Zeitschel (d. 2009).

A 19^TH CENTURY UKRAINIAN WITNESSED FALL WITH IMPORTANT EUROPEAN COLLECTION PROVENANCE

Knyahinya fell to the Earth on June 9^th, 1866, its bright red fireball witnessed by scores of people in a populated region of Eastern Europe now at the intersection of five separate countries: Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. For decades, Knyahinya was the largest known stony meteorite, and the close to 300 kilogram main mass has been housed – and displayed prominently at – the Natural History Museum, Vienna, since shortly after its fall, where it is considered one of the Museum's most important treasures.

Because of Knyahinya's fall and collection over 150 years ago, and its importance to 19^th century European meteoritics and meteorite collecting, many pieces have passed through important collections over time. This complete stone was once in the collection of Walter Zeitschel, one of the most important European collectors of all time.

Two old collection stickers are affixed to the stone, which is offered with a Walter Zeitschel collection label.

REFERENCES:

Meteoritical Bulletin Entry for Knyahinya