No, this isn’t a set piece from Prometheus! It’s actually a depiction of a mammoth Spanish wine jug that was displayed in London during the Great Exhibition of 1851. It was at least 10 feet tall. Do you think Bernard and Manny (from Black Books, duh!) ever tried to create their own — in honor of Prince Albert, of course.

from page 150 of History and Description of the Crystal Palace and the Exhibition of the World’s
Industry in 1851, Volume 2. Printed in London by John Tallis and Co.
Call No.: 606 L847 GTquarto V.2
Location: The George Peabody Library

A close-up of the architectural details that, aside from the books and our wonderful library users, makes the George Peabody Library so beautiful — Corinthian pilasters, gilt work, and lovely florets!

Photograph taken by N. Barker

Happy Mardi Gras from Hopkins’ very own Lester Levy Collection of Sheet Music!

GPL Presents: Love Letter Advice from the Past!

Though today it would be rather creepy to receive, say, an email or a tweet requesting a lock of hair, it used to be the height of romance! So popular indeed was the amputation of hair in the pursuit of love that stock letters were created for the terse of word!

From: Frost’s Original Letter Writer (1867)

Call No.: 808.6 F9296 1867
Location: George Peabody Library

The Peabody Library has 4 photographs depicting the aftermath of the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 (for those of you who aren’t from Baltimore, the fire started on February 7 and destroyed over 1,500 buildings).  Shown here is a photograph depicting the intersection of Pratt and Gay streets following the disaster.

Want to learn more about the fire?  Check out this cool interactive feature produced by the Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage Project.

Looking for a Personalized Gift for Your Victorian Paramour?

Then why not purchase Leaflets of Memory (1846), an example of the Victorian gift book.  Gift books were kind of like early coffee table books.  They are chock full of illustrations and poems and stories of dubious literary merit. They were meant to be displayed and cherished. 

Our copy of Leaflets of Memory is rather boss as it is inscribed to “La Belle Marguarite” from the Doctor who “hopes to have a page” in her life.  Hot stuff in deed.  Do you think Marguarite had to loosen her corset upon reading the dedication?  Did the mysterious Doctor encounter Marguarite whilst taking a Tardis joyride to 19th century America?  The world wants to know, gosh darnit!

Call No.: 818 .L434

Posted by Heidi Herr

In this our esteemed third installment of Weird Word Wednesday we present to you, our gentle audience, a “petticoat pensioner,” indicating that the world forever was and forever shall be the domain of the cougar.

Call No.: 427 G877D
Location: George Peabody Library