Welcome to George Peabody Library's Wunderkammer!

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

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Frenchman with his Flying Horse!

Us silly Americans have to make do with silly talking horses like Mr. Ed, but the French get flying horses! Believe it or not, but there actually was a noted 18th century French balloonist by the name of Pierre Testu-Brissy who reportedly took over 50 hot air balloon rides with his horse!

From:  Les Animaux Savants, ou, Exercises des Chevaux de MM. Franconi, du cerf Coco, du cerf Azor, de l’elephant Baba, des serins hollandais, du singe militaire. Paris: P. Didot, 1816.

Location: George Peabody Library

Even Books Can Be, Um, Bootylicious!

Age Before Booty? Hey, that’s our motto at the Peabody! Bada-bing!
This awesome book, published in 1936, strives to make economics enticing. It does a great job from the title alone, but it also sets up a scintillating scene in its forward:

“To the reading public that looks upon everything pertaining to the subject of economics as dust dry bagasse, from which the juice of human interest has been extracted, let me say that here is a little volume that will surprise and delight you.” Our juice of human interest is reinvigorated and is ready to read more!

Call No.: 331 .252 D712
Location: George Peabody Library

What the Ovary Tooth is Going on in 17th Century England?

Did the great scientists of England find it odd or alarming that the woman’s husband kept her “ovary tooth” with him at all times?

This incredible medical discovery was documented in Dr. Nejemjah Grew’s “Catalogue and Description of the Natural and Artificial Rarities Belonging to the Royal Society and Preserved at Gresham College ” (1681). As an added bonus, it also offers a lovely supplement of comparative stomachs and guts!

Call No.: 506 .R888Gf
Location: George Peabody Library

Completely Frivolous, Yet Totally Awesome!

Ornate revolving book cases requiring the strength of over a thousand Hercules to operate were on display at the 1851 Great Exhibition.  While we are quite happy that the George Peabody Library is chock full of traditional upright cases, we nonetheless but wish to have one revolving book case simply for the opportunities for mischief such a storage unit naturally creates.

From page 202 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 L847GT V.2
Location: The George Peabody Library

Yep, Even We Have a Library Cat

We fully admit that those of us who work at the glorious George Peabody Library are a bit strange, especially when it comes to being representative of library folk.  Why, you may ask?  Because we can’t stand the world’s love affair with library cats!  We love French bulldogs and floppy, furry mutts!  Biblio-dogs forever!

However, we understand that we are in the minority, and hence present for your viewing pleasure our very own Tom the Creepy Cat. He is holding a sign that exclaims, in his own “cat-language” which oddly resembles English, why he is not a thin feline.  It’s weird.

Location: George Peabody Library

Sassy, Salty Humor!

The cover is like Toy Story for sassy condiments! Here’s a risque pregnancy joke straight from the vaudeville acts of 1915, courtesy of Baltimore’s very own publishers of yore, the Ottenheimer Brothers!:

Lady: “How much are your lollipops for children?”
Clerk: “Fifty cents for a dozen.”
Lady: “Thanks, I’ve only got eleven. I’ll call later.”

Call No.: 818 .5202 Sp42 1915
Location: George Peabody Library

Behold the Manliest Exercises Known to Man!

Judging by the illustrations contained in Walker’s Manly Exercises (!), the author, “Craven,” was certainly cravin’ something and we don’t think it was a 19th century energy bar.   Indeed, the volume is full of tights-wearing dandies engaged in all sorts of muscle-building pursuits!  In particular, we love the jaunty rope climbing style advocated by the author.  If only some sort of classy Merchant & Ivory film team would come along and create an epic sports footage montage lovingly recreating these most manly of all Victorian exercises.  British Film Institute, we command you to make it happen!

About the Book: Walker’s manly exercises : containing rowing, sailing, riding, driving, hunting, shooting, and other manly sports / the whole carefully rev., or written, by “Craven.”  London:H.G. Bohn, 1860.

Call number: 796 W178 DUODECIMO

Want a Cure for a Manic Monday?  How About Some Roaring Jokes?

Wish you were having a laugh? Well, Roaring Jokes is surely a tonic for every and any malady! After all, just look at how giggly the toothless fellow on the cover is! He’s certainly about to bust right out of his cravat. Let’s select a random joke and just see what has him in such a silly predicament:

“They tell me,” said the professor, “that Mrs. Highroller is a very sympathetic person.”
“I should say she was,” say Harkaway. “Why, when her husband eloped with Mrs. Gayboy, she immediately sent Mrs. Gayboy a telegram of condolence.”

How pithy! How droll!

Call No.: 818 .5202 R5318 1915
Location: George Peabody Library