Words and Pictures From old Books

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Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Reading Desks. MS. Bodleian Library. (detail), from The National and Domest
2008-06-06 04:51:00
The right-hand of two wooden reading desks that were depicted in a 15th century manuscript. This one has a an open book, and the stand (or lecturn) is carved with decorations. (The left-hand reading desk needs to be re-scanned)(read more...)
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Carriage of the Fifteenth Century., from The National and Domestic History
2008-06-06 04:51:00
A woodcut based on a picture in a book from the 15th century. A cart or carriage is pulled by two horses. A man with a hat rides one of the horses and brandishes a whip; the horses are blinkered and have bits in their mouths. In the carriage ride three people, one in the front turning to look at, or talk to, two women inside. One of the women has her hands raised as if praying or beseeching.(read more...)
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85.---Roman Eagle., from Old England: A Pictorial Museum (1845), added on 6
2008-06-06 04:46:00
The cavalry and the war-chariots of the active Britons met the invader on the beach; and whilst the soldiers hesitated to leave the ships, the standard-bearer of the tenth legion leaped into the water, exclaiming, as Cæsar has recorded, “Follow me, my fellow-soldiers, unless you will give up your eagle to the enemy! I, at least, will do my duty to the republic and to our general!” (Fig. 85.) The Roman s made good their landing. The symbols of the great republic were henceforward to become more familiar to the skin-clothed and painted Britons (Fig. 79); but not as yet were they to be bound with the chain of the captive (Fig. 81). (p. 26)(read more...)
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Old Advert: Hotel Chamberlin, from Scribner's Magazine 1903 No. 11 (1903),
2008-06-04 05:06:00
HOTEL CHAMBERLIN OLD POINT COMFORT, VA. The most magnificent Resort Hotel in America(read more...)
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Old Advert: Christmas Gift Charms and Brooches, from Scribner's Magazine 19
2008-06-04 05:06:00
Order your Christmas Gift s by mail Send for our Year Book for 1904. The SOMETHING DIFFERENT you wish for christmas may be found in its 188 pages. Of the numberless articles in Solid Gold and Sterling Silver it contains, over 3000 are between 25 cents and $5.00. [. . .] Daniel Low and Co Jewelers and Silversmiths 207 essex St., Salem, Massachusetts This old ad shows photographs of silver charms and gold brooches.(read more...)
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51. Seal of Balam., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (19
2008-06-02 09:41:00
(50.) Balam. — The Fifty-first Spirit is Balam or Balaam. He is a Terrible, Great, and Powerful King . He appeareth with three Heads: the first is like that of a Bull; the second is like that of a Man; the third is like that of a Ram. He hath the Tail of a Serpent, and Flaming Eyes. He rideth upon a furious Bear, and carrieth a Boshawk upon his Fist. He speaketh with a hoarse Voice, giving True Answers of Things Past, Present, and to Come. He maketh men to go Invisible, and also to be Witty. He governeth 40 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, etc.(read more...)
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52. Seal of Alloces., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (
2008-06-02 09:41:00
(52.) Alloces. — The Fifty-second Spirit is Alloces, or Alocas. He is a Duke, Great, Mighty, and Strong, appearing in the Form of a Warrior riding upon a Great Horse. His Face is like that of a Lion, very Red, and having Flaming Eyes. His Speech is hoarse and very big. His Office is to teach the Art of Astronomy, and all the Liberal Sciences. He bringeth unto thee Good Familiars; also he ruleth over 36 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which, etc.(read more...)
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53. Seal of Camio., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (19
2008-06-02 09:41:00
(53.) Camio. — The Fifty-third Spirit is Camio, or Caim. He is a Great President, and appeareth in the Form of the Bird called a Thrush at first, but afterwards he putteth on the Shape of a Man carrying in his Hand a Sharp Sword. He seemeth to answer in Burning Ashes, or in Coals of Fire. He is a Good Disputer. His Office is to give unto Men the Understanding of all Birds, Lowing of Bullocks, Barking of Dogs, and other Creatures; and also of the Voice of the Waters. He giveth True Answers of Things to Come. He was of the Order of Angels, but now ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits Infernal. His Seal is this, which wear thou, etc.(read more...)
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820.---Edward I from a Statue in the Choir of York Minster., from Old Engla
2008-05-31 10:31:00
King Edward I (pronounced “Edward the First”).(read more...)
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At the bookseller, from A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (188
2008-05-15 13:29:00
The bookseller climbs a ladder to reach a book, which he is about to hand to a customer, a lady in 18th century dress and bonnet, in this bookshop [US: bookstore].(read more...)
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Antique Eighteenth-Century Map of Berkshire, from The Antiquities of Englan
2008-04-26 06:38:00
BERKSHIRE Drawn from the Best Authorities and Regulated by Astronomical Observations By T. Kitchin Geogr. This 1786 (approx.) map includes Reading, Abingdon, Faringdon, Wantage, Wallingford, East Ilsley Lamborn, Hugerford, Newbury, Okingham, Windsor, Henley, Maidenhead and many more places.(read more...)
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The grand Door of Barfreston Church in Kent., from The Antiquities of Engla
2008-04-23 11:00:00
On some of these arches is commonly over the key-stone represented God the Father, or our Saviour surrounded with angels; and below a melange of foliage, animals, often ludicrous, and sometimes even indecent subjects. Partly of this sort is the great door at Barfreston Church in Kent . (preface, p. 111)(read more...)
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48. Seal of Haagenti., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King
2008-04-21 12:04:00
(48.) Haagenti. — The Forty-eighth Spirit is Haagenti. He is a President, appearing in the Form of a Mighty Bull with Gryphon’s Wings. This is at first, but after, at the Command of the Exorcist he putteth on Human Shape. His Office is to make Men wise, and to instruct them in divers things; also to Transmute all Metals into Gold; and to change Wine into Water, and Water into Wine. He governeth 33 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.(read more...)
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47. Seal of Uvall (1)., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King
2008-04-21 12:03:00
(47.) Uvall, Vual, or Voval. — The Forty-seventh Spirit is Uvall, or Vual, or Voval. He is a Duke, Great, Mighty, and Strong; and appeareth in the Form of a Mighty Dromedary at the first, but after a while at the Command of the Exorcist he putteth on Human Shape, and speaketh the Egyptian Tongue, but not perfectly [He can nowadays converse in sound through colloquial Coptic, according to Crowley]. His Office is to procure the Love of Woman, and to tell Things Past, Present, and to Come. He also procureth Friendship between Friends and Foes. He was of the Order of Potestates or Powers. He governeth 37 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, to be made and worn before thee, etc.(read more...)
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47. Seal of Uvall (2)., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King
2008-04-21 12:02:00
Alternate form.(read more...)
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Heraldic chapter head, from The New World (1671), added on 16th April 2008
2008-04-16 10:57:00
This woodcut was at the start of a chapter. It features two mermen, I think ,holding a shield bearing an armorial crest.(read more...)
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In the Train, from Through the Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There (18
2008-04-14 12:34:00
“Tickets, please!” said the Guard, putting his head in at the window. In a moment everybody was holding out a ticket: they were about the same size as the people, and quite seemed to fill the carriage. [. . .] All this time the Guard was looking at her, first through a telescope, then through a microscope, and then through an opera-glass. At last he said, “You’re travelling the wrong way,” and shut up the window and went away. (p. 52) Alice is sitting in a railway carriage [US: railroad car].(read more...)
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The Queen kept crying `Faster! Faster!', from Through the Looking-Glass And
2008-04-14 12:19:00
Alice never could quite make out, in thinking it over afterwards, how it was that they began: all she remembers is, that they were running hand in hand, and the Queen went so fast that it was all she could do to keep up with her: and still the Queen kept crying “Faster! Faster!” but Alice felt she could not go faster, thought she had not breath left to say so. (p. 41)(read more...)
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Behold it then! cried Perseus, from Myths Every Child Should Know (1914), a
2008-04-10 14:36:00
“Behold it then!” cried Perseus, in a voice like the blast of a trumpet. King Polydectes has demanded to be shown the head of the Gorgon, which turns to stone all who gaze upon it. So the King is of course turned to stone, and Perseus wins the day.(read more...)
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Llamas in Peru, from The New World (1671), added on 9th April 2008
2008-04-09 03:15:00
Llamas are being used by natives clad in loin cloths or breech-cloths, as mounts and with panniers over their backs. In the background, naked men with bow and arrow are hunting llama on the mountains. As with all of these pictures, one should remember that the artists and writers were biased.(read more...)
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Map of the Americas, from The New World (1671), added on 9th April 2008
2008-04-09 03:08:00
Novissima et Accuratissima Totius Americæ Descriptio per Gerardum a Schagen. This map of both North America and South America shows California as an island. The map was popular, and was probably first attributed to Claes Visscher of Amsterdam in the 1670s. The largest version is a six megabyte file. You can also download the photograph I used as a starting-point from the Library of Congress. I have cleaned this image up rather aggressively.(read more...)
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Title Page, Descrtion of the new World, from The New World (1671), added on
2008-04-09 03:07:00
De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld: of beschryving van AMERICA en ’t ZUID-LAND with text and engravings/woodcuts by Arnoldus Montanus, Amsterdam, 1671. I made a separate image of the engraving from this page.(read more...)
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Rhinocerous (Hornnase Rhinocer) Engraving, from A description of the nature
2008-04-02 06:12:00
The Rhinoceros borrows his name from the horn in his snout. Some call him an Ægyptian Ox, some an Æthiopian Bull, but they mistake; for there are none in Ægypt, except by chance. In Æthiopia indeed is a bull like him in the horn, which the unskilfull miscall a Rhinoceros. Authors are most uncertain in their descrtiption of him.(read more...)
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84.---Julias Cæsar., from Old England: A Pictorial Museum (1845), added on
2008-04-01 14:09:00
The laurelled conqueror (Figs. 83, 84) Julias Cæsar (Caesar, Cesar), the Roman Emperor.(read more...)
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44. Seal of Shax., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (190
2008-03-26 08:24:00
(44.) Shax. — The Forty-fourth Spirit is Shax, or Shaz (or Shass). He is a Great Marquis and appeareth in the Form of a Stock-Dove, speaking with a voice hoarse, but yet subtle. His Office is to take away the Sight, Hearing, or Understanding of any Man or Woman at the command of the Exorcist; and to steal money out of the houses of King s, and to carry it again in 1,200 years. If commanded he will fetch Horses at the request of the Exorcist, or any other thing But he must first be commanded into a Triangle, ?, or else he will deceive him, and tell him many Lies. He can discover all things that are Hidden, and not kept by Wicked Spirits. He giveth good Familiars, sometimes. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.(read more...)
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43. Seal of Sabnock., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (
2008-03-26 08:22:00
(43.) Sabnock. — >The Forty-third Spirit, as King Solomon commanded them into the Vessel of Brass, is called Sabnock, or Savnok. He is a Marquis, Mighty, Great and Strong, appearing in the Form of an Armed Soldier with a Lion’s Head, riding on a pale-coloured horse. His office is to build high Towers, Castles and Cities, and-to furnish them with Armour, etc. Also he can afflict Men for many days with Wounds and with Sores rotten and full of Worms. He giveth Good Familiars at the request of the Exorcist. He commandeth 50 Legions of Spirits; and his Seal is this.(read more...)
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42. Seal of Vepar, or Vephar., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon
2008-03-26 08:21:00
(42.) Vepar. — The Forty-second Spirit is Vepar, or Vephar. He is a Duke Great and Strong, and appeareth like a Mermaid. His office is to govern the Waters and Ships laden with Arms, Armour, and Ammunition, etc., thereon. And at the request of the Exorcist he can cause the seas to be right stormy and to appear full of ships. Also he maketh men to die in Three Days by Putrefying Wounds or Sores, and causing Worms to breed in them. He governeth 29 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.(read more...)

Ornament: Cornucopia, from The Antiquities of England and Wales (1783), add
2008-03-25 07:15:00
This antique typographic ornament was used as a chapter tail-piece at the end of a section of the preface. You could also use it as a decorative page element. This was scanned from a 1780s book, and is not perfect: I have not tried to clean it up or make it look new. It shows a horn of plenty with fruit and leaves in it.(read more...)
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Ypres Tower, Rye, from Chatterbox Annual (1916), added on 21st March 2008
2008-03-21 08:36:00
[in the Middle Ages] There were three strong gates, and on the south side, looking out across the sea, was a large stone watch-tower, known as the Ypres Tower (pronounced locally ‘Wipers’). It was built by Wlliam of Ypres, Earl of Kent, in the reign of Stephen. Te small garrison kept a close look-out for the enemy’s fleet, and when it was seen to be approaching the warden gave orders that the watch-bell, that stood close by, should be rung to alarm the inhabitants and to call them to prepare for defence. (p. 124)(read more...)
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41. Seal of Focalor., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (
2008-03-15 13:58:00
(41.) Focalor. — The Forty-first Spirit is Focalor, or Forcalor, or Furcalor. He is a Mighty Duke and Strong. He appeareth in the Form of a Man with Gryphon’s Wings. His office is to slay Men, and to drown them in the Waters, and to overthrow Ships of War, for he hath Power over both Winds and Seas; but he will not hurt any man or thing if he be commanded to the contrary by the Exorcist. He also hath hopes to return to the Seventh Throne after 1,000 years. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.(read more...)
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