Today is the first day of the 2017 NFL Draft! Hosted in Philly this year, we thought this big day called for “a little scrimmage.”  This vibrant chromolithograph of late 19th Century football players really highlights the sport’s rugby roots. Now wear a helmet, boys. 

A Little Scrimmage. Philadelphia Inquirer Art Supplements, ca. 1894 - ca. 1898.  [Specimens album loose prints collection] [graphic].

Philly just had its first major snow! Looks like the Morris kids, Marriott C. Morris Jr. pictured here, are starting the base of a snow man. Gloves are in order for this frosty job. 

[Boy rolling large snowball] [Marriott Canby Morris Jr.] 1909. Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer. 1 photograph: film negative; 3 x 4 in.

Today we start an #librariesofinstagram challenge to post wintry scenes. Well, it technically starts on Wednesday, but we were feeling too festive to wait. Don’t worry there will be more wintry wonder to behold! For now enjoy a Morris Family #librarywonderland. 

[Three children sledding] February 1908. Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer. 1 photograph: film negative; 3 x 4.5 in. 

You know that teacher that you are a little afraid of, but want them to like you? Behold, the Schoolmaster! This fish is beautiful but also a bitey. 

Catesby, Mark. The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands … . Vol II.  London : Printed for C. Marsh, 1754.

Lets not leave out driving school, well… 19th century style driving school. 

Philadelphia Riding School [graphic].   Dacre, Henry, b. ca. 1820, artist. [Philadelphia]: C.M. Greiner, No. 43 North Fourth St. 
[ca. 1850].

To continue with our #BacktoSchool theme this week, we highlight our own Jim Green showing a hand-colored metamorphic picture book (1814) to his 2016 Rare Book School class, History of the Book in America c.1700-1830. Librarians never stop learning! 

Behold, the ruggedly handsome hand-colored hogfish! #fishyfriday #heytheregoodlookin

Catesby, Mark. The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands … . Vol II.  London : Printed for C. Marsh, 1754. 

Food fight! 

The larder invaded. [graphic] D. Wiest, artist.  Philadelphia : Published by William Smith, printseller, no. 702 South Third St., Philada. , [ca. 1863]  1 print :  hand-colored lithograph ;  sheet 59 x 72 cm (23 x 28.25 in.)

If cats ruled the world, this is how money would look. #kittencandidate #caturday #whorunstheworld

Moncrif, M. de (François Augustin). Les chats. Rotterdam, J. D. Beman, 1728. 

Knock knock, it’s #fowlfriday, and here we have a beautiful hand-colored plate of various woodpeckers.

American ornithology; or, The natural history of the birds of the United States : illustrated with plates engraved and colored from original drawings taken from nature. / By Alexander Wilson. Vol. IV, p129.