Welcome to George Peabody Library's Wunderkammer!

Is she demented or smiling at her own jesterly awesomeness? Let’s see what kind of jokes such a smiling and winning visage is promoting!

“How is your younger brother, the surgeon, doing?”
“First rate. He recently operated on his tenth patient and the man lived twenty hours.”

Call No.: 808 .882 Sm 43 1915
Location: George Peabody Library

Based upon the cover art, intense concentration leads to visions of epic early 20th century make out sessions and bags of money.

Call No.: 133.82 Z15 1926

Comfort’s Palmistry Guide Really Doesn’t Look All That Comfortable

Is it a tell tale hand, or simply a weird place for a tattoo? Only Cheiro the Palmist knows for sure! Cheiro was quite a dashing and celebrated international palmist, but there were some who couldn’t handle his dastardly hand-reading ways.  An attempt was made on his life in his swanky 5th Avenue bachelor apartment back in 1894.  Fortunately, his failed assassin only stabbed Cheiro’s cigarette case and Cheiro lived to read many a palm!

This is yet another one of our great pulpy books from our Ottenheimer of Baltimore collection.

Call No.: 133.6.C416 1894
Location: George Peabody Library

Party Down with the Book of Parlor Games & Amusements!

Ever want to party like it’s 1912? Well ladies and gentleman, it takes much more than merely purchasing a fascinator and calling everyone an old chap. There must be a steady stream of amusements, the likes of which must only have been found humorous by a population inadvertently digesting cocaine. Here are some of the wonderful games you can play while waiting for the return of Downton Abbey:
- My Lady’s Toilet
- The German Dwarf
- The Cotton Flies
- Scissors Crossed or Not Crossed

Call No.: 793 .D144 1912
Location: George Peabody Library

Jokes Perfect for Every Octoberfest!

Boy do we have a joke for you straight from the vaudeville circuit of 1914 — a joke so great that it will magically put a pretzel on your watch-fob.  Don’t believe us? Well, just look at the cover illustration to New Dutch Jokes, or what we like to alternatively call Leave My Sausage Alone, and see that miracles really do happen!  Ready for the joke?  Here it is:

A German boy at school, out West, when called on to recite his lesson in history was asked, “What is ther German diet composed of?”
The boy replied, “Sour-kraut, schnapps, and lager beer.” The boy was instantly promoted.

It’s funny because it’s true!

Call No.: 818 .5202 H42 1914
Location: George Peabody Library

Not That Kind of Hash, Silly!

Instead, these are old-fashioned jokes guaranteed to offer a quick spit shine to the greasy spoon of your choice!  Hungry for a joke?  Then I hope this fills your belly with laughter (though it most likely won’t):

Flip Boarder - Well, what have we got to eat this morning?
Frosty Landlady - You ain’t got to eat nothing if you don’t want to.

Call No.:  818 .5202 Ed33 1915
Location: George Peabody Library

Hot Stuff and How!

Here’s a joke that certainly went over well in the speakeasies:
“Let me have a loaf of white bread, please.”
“Sorry, we have nothing but rye.”
“Oh, boy!  Fine!  Gimme a quart.”

Call No.: 818 .5202 P398 1929
Location: George Peabody Library