Drawings of Tetradons and Diodons (ca. 1838–42)
Wonderful drawings of balloonfishes and pufferfishes made during, or shortly after, the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842….more
Illustrations
Steam-Powered Tooth Extraction on an Envelope (1894)
This wonderful sketch of “teeth painlessly extracted by steam power” appears on an envelope addressed to a certain Dr J. Chapman of Totton, Southampton. As to w…more
Images from German “Caterpillar Calendar” (1837)
Wonderful illustrations from an entomological volume outlining which caterpillars appear each month, as well as details on how to keep them and catch the butterflie…more
The Civil War Sketches of Adolph Metzner (1861–64)
Remarkable collection of sketches, drawings and watercolours left to us by Adolph Metzner, during his three years of service with the 1st German, 32nd Regiment Indi…more
On the Disposition of Iron in Variegated Strata (1868)
Images depicting ferruginous variation from a 19th-century geological paper, at times like some kind of geological precursor to the 50s experiments of Abstract Expr…more
Émile-Antoine Bayard’s Illustrations for Around the Moon by Jules Verne (1870)
Arguably the very first images to depict space travel on a scientific basis, these wonderful illustrations are the work of the French illustrator Émile-Antoine Bay…more
Illustrations from the Lights of Canopus (1847)
Exquisite illustrations from a 19th-century Persian version of an ancient Indian collection of animal fables called the Panchatantra….more
William Sharp’s Chromolithographs of The Great Water Lily (1854)
Six magnificent images of Victoria amazonica, believed to be the very first colour-printed lithographs produced in America….more
The Maps of Matrakçı Nasuh, Ottoman Polymath
Exquisite miniatures of 16th-century Persia by Bosnian-born Ottoman polymath and all-round genius Matrakcı Nasuh….more
Images from the First Colour Publication on Fish (1754)
Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes can lay claim to be being the earliest known publication in colour on fish, though many specimens seem to border on fantasy….more
Yellow Journalism: The “Fake News” of the 19th Century
Peddling lies in public goes back to antiquity, but it is the with the Tabloid Wars of the 19th-century when it first reached the widespread outcry and fever pitch …more
A Selection from The MET’s Public Domain Collection, Now Free from All Restrictions
We present our highlights from the lesser known corners of The Metropolitan Museum’s public domain collection, now made available free from restrictions on use….more