Houghton Library

@houghtonlib / houghtonlib.tumblr.com

Showcasing the digital collections of Harvard's Houghton Library, including illustrations, photographs, bookbindings and more.

A depiction of Chinese silk production for an 18th century British audience. Publication of the book was funded much like a Kickstarter, with backers paying in advance, and at a high enough tier you got credited by name in one of the illustrations, like Sir Nathaniel and Lady Curzon here.

Du Halde, J.-B. (Jean-Baptiste), 1674-1743. A Description of the Empire of China and Chinese-Tartary. London : Printed by T. Gardner for Edward Cave, 1738-1741.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#silk #weaving #china #18th century #engraving

"A new machine to go without horses," from The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure. London, 1777.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#transportation #invention #18th century #engraving

We heard you were interested in moles, so here is a chart used in moleosophy, or divination by the location of moles on the body.

Saunders, Richard, 1613-1675. Physiognomie, and chiromancie, metoposcopie, the symmetrical proportions and signal moles of the body, fully and accurately handled; with their natural-predictive-significations. London, Printed by R. White, for Nathaniel Brooke, 1653.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#mole interest #17th century #engraving #bookhistory

houghtonlib reblogged

Whoops! This engraved almanac got its text scrambled, swapping March and April. That may explain why no other copies of this almanac are recorded.

The New Years gift, or, Times progress for the year of Our Lord 1748.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#april #almanac #engraving #18th century

"St. Jérome en Extase". Engraving by N. [Narciso Edmundo Jose] Desmadryl, after C.L. Muller

MS Hyde 76 (2.5.358.3)

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#st jerome #engraving #19th century

Child prodigy organist William Crotch performed for George III before his fourth birthday. This elaborate portrait was commissioned by his mother to mark the occasion.

MS Hyde 76, (3.3.197.5)

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#child prodigy #musician #portrait #18th century #engraving

Félibien, André, sieur des Avaux et de Javercy, 1619-1695. Tapisseries du roy ou sont representez les quatre elemens et les quatre saisons. A Paris : L'Imprimerie roiale, 1670.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#tapestries #engraving #french #louis xiv #17th century #bookhistory

Casseri, Giulio Cesare, approximately 1552-1616. Tabulae anatomicae, 1627.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#anatomy #engraving #17th century #bookhistory

Hancarville, Pierre d', 1719-1805. Collection of Etruscan, Greek, and Roman antiquities from the cabinet of the Honble. Wm. Hamilton, 1766.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#dog #cup #classical #engraving #antiquities

Dumas, Louis, 1676-1744. La bibliotheque des enfans, ov Les premiers elemens des lettres, contenant le sisteme du bureau tipografique, 1733.

FC7.D8913.732bb

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#language #education #france #engraving #18th century #bookhistory

Casanova escapes from the Doge of Venice’s prison. Casanova, Giacomo, 1725-1798. Histoire de ma fuite des prisons de la republique de Venise, qu'on appelle les Plombs, 1787.

*IC7 C2633 787h

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#casanova #prison #engraving #18th century #bookhistory

Lépicié, François Bernard, 1698-1755. Antoine Watteau de L'Acad. Royale de peinture, ca. 1730.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#painter #portrait #engraving #antoine watteau #18th century

Soest, Henricus van. Conditien ende voorwaerden waer op-ghelot sal worden inde loterye binnen Antwerpen op-gherecht door Henricus van Soest, 1695.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#frontispiece #engraving #antwerp #17th century #bookhistory

houghtonlib reblogged

Top: London, April the 29th.1724. This is the effigies of Mr. Matthew Buchinger, being drawn and written by himself… Stipple engraving, London, 1724. With detail showing that the hair in the portrait is made of finely written bible verses.

Middle: By authority, lately arriv’d, and to be seen at the Globe and Duke of Marlborough’s H in Fleet-street. Broadside, 1717. Advertisement for a performance by Matthew Buchinger. Printed on silk.

Bottom: Portrait of Matthew Buchinger, signed and inscribed by him.

MS Hyde 74 (1.18)

Houghton Library, Harvard University

Matthias Buchinger (June 3, 1674 – 1740), sometimes called Matthew Buckinger in English, was a German artist, magician, and illustrator, born without hands or legs.

A new exhibition of Buchinger drawings curated by magician and collector Ricky Jay has just opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

#calligraphy #illustration #engraving #disability #18th century

Portraits of painters Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breugel. Galle, Philippe, 1537-1612. Italorum doctrina illustrium imagines, 1600.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#painter #artist #portrait #engraving #16th century #bookhistory

Initial drawing, preliminary and finished engravings for a plate from a French encyclopedia of occupations. Pictured are an apothecary, a stocking maker, a carpenter, and a dentist.

Desrais, Claude Louis, 1746-1816. Abécédaire des arts et métiers, ca. 1800.

TypDr 715.D321.90a

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#jobs #working #engraving #french #18th century #bookhistory

Whoops! This engraved almanac got its text scrambled, swapping March and April. That may explain why no other copies of this almanac are recorded.

The New Years gift, or, Times progress for the year of Our Lord 1748.

Houghton Library, Harvard University

#almanac #mistake #engraving #18th century #bookhistory

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