By Adrienne Rusinko
Summer is here, and so are new stickers! A limited run of stickers are now available at Special Collections Firestone, Special Collections Mudd, and the Princeton University Library (PUL) Makerspace.
Little Owl, GA 2007.00515, Graphic Arts
This adorable owl comes from Alexander Wilson’s 9-volume work, American Ornithology, featured in the original image alongside a seaside finch, sharp-tailed finch, and savannah finch. Wilson, who was born in Scotland in 1766 and died in Philadelphia in 1813, is considered the “Father of American Ornithology.” Wilson is credited as an inspiration to John James Audubon, who sought to surpass his documentation of North American Birds. Audubon was ultimately successful, depicting 1,055 birds encompassing 489 species in 435 plates, compared to Wilson’s 320 birds from 278 species in 29 plates. While Audubon depicted more birds overall, only 25 of the birds were previously unidentified. Wilson, in comparison, discovered 26.
Gospel Lectionary, Garrett MS. 33, Manuscripts
This slithery little snake graces the margins of the first page of Garrett MS. 33, a circa 1500 CE gospel lectionary written and illuminated in France. The lectionary organizes selections of the gospels according to the calendar of the Catholic Church. This text opens with the first celebration of the year, Christmas, saying in Latin, “In Die Natiuitatis Domini,” or, “On the Day of the Lord’s Nativity.”
Elfin Song by Florence Harrison, 18654 Eng 20, Cotsen Children’s Library
This illustration is pulled from the pages of the poem Ships of the Sky from Florence Harrison’s 1912 Elfin Song: A Book of Verse. Harrison, who both wrote and illustrated the book, likens the clouds to ships of the sky, carrying gold from the sun and coffers of the moon, with rain, hail, and thunder as defences, traveling across the world. Speaking of the rainbow depicted here, she writes:
Sometimes we drift where showers lift
A fairy-splendoured bow,
Or lie encharmed, long time becalmed
In the un-windy glow.
Decalcomania is a limited monthly release of stickers made available at Special Collections Firestone, Special Collections Mudd, and the PUL Makerspace. All images are selected from materials held by Special Collections. Check out the Special Collections website for information about visiting our reading rooms.
Did we run out of your favorite sticker? Do you want to make your own? Head over to the PUL Makerspace! Design your own or reprint a Decalcomania sticker using the cutting machines.
Digital images of some of the materials in Special Collections can be found in the catalog and finding aids. Our blogs and Digital PUL have collection highlights.
You must be logged in to post a comment.