Bindings on 19th century albums and gift books were meant to catch the eye, and in some cases the binding was more important than the contents.  This album is no exception.  Decorated with painted inlaid mother-of-pearl and bordered in gilt it certainly caught our eye. 

Album: presented to [blank] by [blank]. [Philadelphia : Moss & Brother, 1855?]. Binding attributed to Altemus & Co.

Cataloger Em Ricciardi, like a lot of us stuck at home, has been doing some spring cleaning.  Unlike a lot of us, they decided to reorganize their bookshelf, and like a true cataloger, did so using three different systems, including the Library Company’s unique Smith System, just to see which one worked the best for their collection. The result? No spoilers! Check it out on the blog. 

Tuesday? More like…MOOsday! (We’ll escort ourselves out for that one) 

Peter Moran, [Sketcbook during New England summer excursion, July-August 1882]. Graphite. 

#OnThisDay in 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which gave U.S. government the power to draft soldiers. Posters like this one played an integral role in persuading men to register for military service. 

James Montgomery Flagg, First in the Fight, Always Faithful, Be a U.S. Marine, ca. 1922. Poster print. 

Weekend quarantine activity: turn all of the shoes you haven’t worn in nine weeks into planters!

Image: T. Gorham, carpenter and builder. [Philadelphia]: 1880. Chromolithograph, 3 x 4 in. 

Oh! what we wouldn’t give to sit in that chair once more!   

The Hair Dresser, from Volume 2 of The Book of trades, or Library of the useful arts. White-Hall [Pa.]: Published by Jacob Johnson, 1807.

Tag yourself. Today, we’re the Igel (hedgehog). 

Hoch-deutsches lutherisches A B C und Namen Büchlein. Germantaun [Pa.]: Gedruckt und zu haben von Michael Billmeyer, 1802.

It’s never too late to celebrate Mother’s Day!

John Frank Keith, Mother holding infant, ca. 1931. Gelatin silver on postcard mount.

Image depicts a mother holding her baby in front of a brick house in Philadelphia. She smiles with pride. There is another child in the opened window behind her. The window’s awning is not extended. Part of a baby carriage is visible next to the woman.

What do these six images have in common? Check out Curator of Graphic Arts Erika Piola’s latest blog post to find out! And if you’re feeling inspired, check out our Digital Catalog (http://ow.ly/6dKt50zyOaD) to play along and find six objects with six degrees of separation. Share your results with #LCPonline and #sixdegreesofseparation 

Read Erika’s post here: https://librarycompany.org/2020/05/04/six-degrees-of-separation-of-the-edward-shippen-burd-mansion/

Some lovely nonpareil papers to usher in the weekend.  May it be without equal!

Marbled endpapers from: López de Segura, Ruy. Libro De La Invencion Liberal Y Arte del juego del Axedrez…Alcala, En casa de Andres de Angulo, 1561.